Exotic Animal Industry in the U.S.
http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2012-02-01/exotic-animal-industry-us
The right to own pythons, tigers, chimps and other exotic pets depends on where in the US you live. The legal US wildlife industry doesn’t get much national attention unless someone is hurt, an exotic pet gets loose or an ecosystem is damaged. A new report links Burmese pythons released in the Florida Everglades to the severe declines of in the region's mammals. In Ohio police shot and killed dozens of exotic animals including wolves, lions, and bears reportedly set free by their distraught owner. As some fight for more regulation, breeders, brokers and owners of exotic pets say they are being unfairly targeted. Guest host Susan Page and a panel discuss battles over the legal wildlife trade.
Guests
Wayne Pacelle
President and C.E.O. of the Humane Society of the United States
Andrew Wyatt
president of the United States Association of Reptile Keepers
Zuzana Kukol
president and co-founder of Responsible Exotic Animal Ownership (REXANO)
Tim Harrison
director of Outreach for Animals, and advocate group for proper behavior around wildlife
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Program Highlights
Last fall, Ohio Police killed 49 exotic animals set free by their distraught owner. A recent report says Burmese pythons released into the Florida Everglades are causing severe declines in the regions mammals. This type of reports has brought scrutiny to the exotic pets industry. Guest host Susan page and our guests take a look at different arguments concerned with balancing personal rights, public safety, and environmental health.
Differences Between Exotic Animals And Other Pets
The Humane Society's Wayne Pacelle noted that the most common domesticated pets, like dogs and cats, belong in our homes, enjoy our companionship, and are capable of being trained. Tigers, large predatory animals, constricting snakes, and other exotic pets don't, he said. "There are no good outcomes for these animals," he said. "They almost always end up injured or dead or relinquished."
Exotic Pet Owners Speak
Zuzana Kukol of Responsible Exotic Animal Ownership has owned exotic cats and thinks ownership of such animals should be regulated no differently than that of domestic pets. Andrew Wyatt, of the U.S. Association of Reptile Keepers, has also owned snakes and pointed out that not all reptiles are "exotic." Wyatt admits that Burmese pythons and other invasive species are a big problem in the Florida Everglades, but he believes the problem is fairly limited.
Effect Of Animals On Environment "Devastating"
Pacelle disagrees with Wyatt and argues that advocates like Kukol and Wyatt "want to protect the right of private citizens to have dangerous predatory animals in their homes, even if they're causing ecological havoc, even if they're causing public safety threats, and even if the animals themselves are enormous victims of this trade," Pacelle said. Kuzol said that the number of people killed in the U.S. by exotic animals - about 3 per year - is much less than that of people killed by dogs, horses, and many other domesticated animals.
Wildlife Advocates Weigh In
A caller named Chet from Georgia, who is the executive director at the Georgia Wildlife Rescue Association, said that he has heard reports of what sounds like either an anaconda or a python in his state. He said that the snakes do seem to be moving further north and he has a sense that the problem might not be as well-contained as Wyatt believes. Chet has owned exotic snakes himself, but he does have reservations about anyone being able to enter a pet shop and purchase a snake that will eventually grow up to be enormous and potentially difficult to feed, handle, and care for.
You can read the full transcript here.
Related Video
Zuzana Kukol, of Rexano:
Comments
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I'm not sure I can add much that hasn't already been said here, but I definitely support the exotic animal owners. Many of these issues including invasive species and public safety can be handled with common sense solutions. Unfortunately, common sense isn't common (in fact it's so rare, it's kind of like a super-power). The invasive python issue is a local Florida issue which is already being handled by the state of Florida, and that is where it needs to stay. There is absolutely no reason to punish the rest of the responsible owners in the country and adding these animals to the Lacey Act will do absolutely NOTHING to help the Everglades. Public safety is easily handled with local regulations and enforcement of potentially dangerous animals. But people should know the facts that over the last 50 years in the United States, No random members of the public has died to an exotic animal. Only people that were inside of the facility where they were kept or that deliberately put themselves in that situation to interact with the animals. Even then, there is approximately 3 deaths per year by all exotic animals in the entire United States. Compare this to over 30 deaths a year by dogs, and over 20 deaths per year by horses...many of these attacks on unsuspecting public. Common Sense people!
The bigger issues here are how HSUS uses misleading tactics to raise millions of dollars a year and uses less than 1% of that money raised for what they insinuate they are using it for. The rest of that money is used to attack fair and responsible pet owners and push their extremist agendas. That should be illegal and should be stopped. Those types of tactics need to be regulated and punished.
Here we go again. Just like the program about restricting cell phones & the like while driving, again we have the advocates whose argument is basically "We can so why not?" Their arguments grow much weaker when you not only give reasons why not but go further by challenging that the people wanting to do must do so responsibly and be trained. Just because you can doesn't mean you should or are capable.
I would like to see all of the owners of tigers and lions arrested and jailed for a very long time the inhumanity and cruelty of caging these beautiful predator cats.
i live in the backwards state of ohio and have written to governor Kassics who was too busily trying to kill unions to be aware of the problem with the extremely lax laws While any idiot could own tigers and keep them any way they wanted to , with out the responsibility of just and humane treatment of these large animals , I wondered what the town of Zanesville was doing while this yahoo had all these large cats caged , what was he feeding them the neighborhood dogs? He evidently was bankrupt should someone like that be allowed to keep these large cats the answer is absolutely not, when will the state of ohio wake up?
Yes, there are many more dog and horse owners than exotic animal owners. But when you break it down comparing the number of deaths vs the number of animals owned...dogs still kill 3 times more people, and horses 2 times more people than exotic animals do.
U Have to much Time on your hands HSUS Kills along with Peta we are in bad shape In US This not priority
Who says that owning exotic animals of any kind is a 'right'? It is very clear that such ownership has very negative implications to the environment and to the individual animals kept by these people. Visit a sanctuary, such as one outside of Denver that houses hundreds of large carnivores that were 'pets' at one time. Humans like Zuzana and Andrew have NO right to own or encourage ownership of exotic animals who belong only in one place - the wild habitats in which they came from.
Anyone keeping an undomesticated animal in their house for their own pleasure and entertainment is sadly deluded and even more sadly unaware of the rights of the animal. I'm outraged at this woman and anyone else who thinks keeping a lion on her property--an animal whose personal territory encompasses hundreds of square miles--is in any way normal or acceptable behavior for those of us who are supposed to be stewards of the earth and its inhabitants. If you ask me, it's a colossal ego trip. What happened to common sense? What an embarrassment!
We heard the guest mention what the number of people killed per year by exotic pets are vs. killed by horses, cars & dogs; however, there are many more horses, dogs & cars in the US so what is the percentage of people killed by exotic animals in the US per year vs the percentage of people killed by horses, dogs & cars?
Is anyone promoting the ownership of these animals taking the animals, their welfare, their plight in the wild, into consideration? They just sound selfish.
These animals should be made to be "licenced" right at the store/etc. they are being sold at. Dogs are licenced. This would be a way to keep a better check on where these animals are going. Thank you
Its not about public safety, invasion of non indiginous species, its about the animal and its safety its well being. if an exotic animal eats its owner who cares its natural selection.
The person who wants an animal has not taken the time to educate themselves on the care of the animal. my sister works for the animal licensing dept for USDA APHIS, the stories she tells is horrific of the animals and how they are 'tortured' by so called well meaning owners who do not properly vet or feed the 'pet'. ridiculous people. No way that anyone should own an exotic. Sugar gliders, a non dangerous animal will eat their own feet when stressed due to the owners ignorance of its care. Stop the lunacy of ignorance.
This "why not" idea is rediculous as the caller just stated. Zuzana said a car is luxury...yes it is, and you have to have a licence in order to operate one. You want an exotic pet, fine, it may be our right to be able to aquire these but you should have to be certified in order to do so. My thought is a wild animal is called wild for a reason. I do not feel anyone should own wild or certain exotics, but a happy medium would be making people get some sort of certification before you can buy a tiger or chimp. I might have the money to go buy an airplane but that doesn't mean I can hop in, take off, and fly around because I don't know the regulations, proceedures, etc, and let alone the safety issues of what happens if you crash and kill innocent people! The same applys to wild animals and certain exotics.
We cannot take care of our DOMESTICATED animals let alone the Exotic Animals and Reptiles that Americans order as an impulse with no long term plans for an animal that may have a lifespan longer than any human. There are already too many irresponsible domesticated animal owners in the USA. The exotic species trade should ONLY be handled by professionals
Oh look, Carole or is it Sky posting and defaming...100% wrong but this is not about me...funny how you always make it personal and busy on every site you can find promoting the Animal Rights agenda...This is about the snake ban and the bans that have been started all around the country...(That was not said in your opinion...you state as if fact and NOT!!! Of course scared to state who you are -HA!)
BCR (in my opinion) is an prime example of a sanctuary gone wrong and BOUGHT her way to H$U$ protection...What animal sanctuary can afford to donate $100,000.00 to H$U$ and WHY!?!
Protection of course.
You want to continue to go personal I can and expose 'Easy Street'-forgot, it's BCR now...Don't push me to go there because I will...and already written...beyond my blog, it will post here...and factual...let the truth about BCR be known...as the BCR sponsor, I should know!!! Better than anyone!!!
I have nothing to be ashamed of and accused does not make it so, sorry-NOT!!!
H$U$ is in violation of the 1995 Lobbyists Act and going down for that...
In my opinion, if you donate to BCR, you are donating to H$U$...APPARENTLY, the money doesn't go to the cats!!! Pseudo sanctuary!!! Look at the flimsy small cages and death rate-Interesting it is not just my opinion!!!
EVERYTHING said "in my opinion" LOL!!!
Not sure if this has been discussed. What about the idea that exotic pet owners, by seeking protected animals are contributing to black market trade that can cause serious harm to animal populations (e.g. african grey parrot).
-Will
my question is how much money is spent each year on irresponsible dog and cat owners who don't spay and neuter there animalls?
It our choice as Americans to have freedom soon we will not have a ca dog canary No one can affored to move No zoo wants them This is a no win situations Children Bite an also theres needs be funding for abuse sexual an important HSUS an Peta send false they do not even support animal humane Society
Well there here so deal with it People are Dangerous
Please ask Mr. Parcell to comment on the profit motives of exotic pet ownership groups in the sales and distribution of these animals.
Exactly
If people are longing to care for exotic animals, and if there are so many exotic animals already in US shelters, why don't lovers of those animals volunteer at those shelters and give money to them. Why do they feel the need to own the animals?
the word exotic really means ANYTHING that is not native to the area. so doesn't that mean that every animal that is here is technically exotic?
Oh DRS, you're breaking my heart! I was so excited to listen to a conversation full of intelligent, thoughtful and educational discussion about the housing and regulation of exotic animals as i have many conflicting thoughts on this issue.
You have HSUS on! You may as well have a lobbyist on, it would have the same educational benefit.
For the first time in 2 years... i'm turning you off. I'm sure I will not find a better show in this time slot, but i cannot support this particular show.
Unless of course you're planning on following up with a lengthy and educational discussion of HSUS; which i would listen to with great interest.
Thanks so much!
As a responsible dog owner, I am obligated to license my pets - which means I am subject to verifying their status on shots and health. As a home owner, I am obligated to have the dogs on my homeowners policy.
Are there similar requirements for exotic pet owners ? Are they required to have insurance for the animals or their property ? Are they obligate to prove that each animal has had all their shots to reduce the risk of rabies?
I suspect that the pet insurance and homeowners insurance industry would have a field day with this show !
Comparing public safety of exotic animals with automobiles and dog attacks is irrelevant! The ETHICS of owning large felines, canids and other exotics is the question at hand -....zoos and sanctuaries are NOT the same as individuals keeping these animals in a house, apartment or a back yard.
The recent inclusion of pythons and other snakes into the Lacey Act is an outright injustice. At best this is a state issue not a national one. This is a perfect example of the corruption that takes place in Washington. This will do nothing but harm the people in the industry, the animals in wild and future pets that will somehow be slowly added to the list. It is pointless and must be overturned.
I have run a reptile rescue for 18 years. In that 18 years, we have received many donations from the reptile industry portion from supplies to cash donations. These are the people who have supposedly created this issue. In that same time, we have received no support what so ever from Humane Society of the United States. We also provide training to first responders as well as supplies and training to the local sheltering community. It is deplorable for Wayne to state that the HSUS covers these topics because if that is the case, they have skipped an entire state. I have been doing this for the state of WI for 18 years.
Wayne - you are fantastic - thank you for your work and for articulating my own views on this issue.
how spoiled we've become to think if we want it, we should have it;
Exotic animals, houses we can't afford and so on, and the hell
with the world around us.
I don't think we used to be that way.
Here in South Louisiana, we are significantly north of the Everglades, yet, a few years ago, a friend of mine found a Burmese Python shopping at his mother's patio bird feeder.
We're also currently overrun with exotic coypu, locally referred to as "nutra-rats". Nutria. They got loose from private hands in the 1940's, and now they convert square miles of marsh into open water.
There's a popular saltwater aquarium fish that now has taken up residence in offshore coral formations, threatening that fragile ecosystem.
One guest said most exotic pets are small. Well...my own community is saturated with Mediterranean Geckos. Cute, nocturnal, and tiny...and everywhere. Even in our house. So far, we don't know if they are harmful to native ecosystems, but, I have to wonder.
Bird lovers released English Sparrows and European Starlings years ago, and native North American songbird populations plummeted, Eastern Bluebirds in particular. They are still hard-hit.
Experts say if a certain tropical "brown snake" ever gets loose, we might as well hang it all up regarding the natural world in my area.
And don't get me started on escaped, destructive exotic vegetation. Louisiana spends many millions of dollars every year fighting it back. We need strict laws regarding ownership and promulgation of plants as well as animals.
Whether they just watch wildlife or harvest it, citizens who enjoy North America's natural world and native ecosystems, have already lost a lot, and have a lot more yet to lose from citizens who feel free to own exotic animals.
We desperately need some toothsome laws and energetic enforcement on this matter.
Thank you Mr Pacelle, for being there, for being articulate, for pointing out the dangers and inconsistencies, for fighting for those who do not have a voice. This is why I support - with $$$ the Humane Society.
feather