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Why exotic animals should not be pets
Private ownership of wild animals like big cats, monkeys and bears typically leads to a life of neglect and cruelty for the animals, as well as presenting risks to the owners and the community.
Fortunately, the practice is decreasing, but there remains far too many bad situations around the country.
Exotic animals — lions, tigers, wolves, bears, reptiles, non-human primates — belong in their natural habitats and not in the hands of private individuals as “pets.” By their very nature, these animals are wild and potentially dangerous and, as such, do not adjust well to a captive environment.
Exotic animals do not make good companions. They require special care, housing, diet, and maintenance that the average person cannot provide. When in the hands of private individuals, the animals typically suffer due to poor care. They also pose safety and health risks to their owners and persons coming into contact with them.
Lori beings the show reflecting on her personal childhood experiences with her friend’s pet bobcat and explains why private ownership of exotic animals is no longer acceptable.
For those who wish to see wild animals, visit and support accredited sanctuaries instead.
Hot animal news
Then, we have some hot animal news including stories about beagles learning to detect lung cancer, possible reasons why dogs have an eyebrow muscle absent in wolves, and an organization is giving grants to rescue groups to aid senior dog adoptions.
Trap, neuter and release programs for feral cats
Peter then welcomes Peter Wolf, Research Policy Analyst at Best Friends Animal Society to review newly published research on their signature community cat management program. The program was implemented in six communities over three years, with almost 73,000 cats and kittens studied. Huge decreases in both shelter cat and kitten intakes and shelter killing were found, with the benefits becoming evident even in the first year of the program.
To conclude, Lori gives July 4th advice to help you manage your pets’ anxiety that may be caused by the noise and lights of the holiday’s fireworks.
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