Picking One Out
It's important for both you and your potential pet that you choose an animal that's right for you, your family, and your lifestyle. Consider not just how cute it is, but how it will fit into your family and home.
Exotic Pets Aren't So Green
If you have your heart set on an exotic pet, there are some very important issues you need to think about. Some exotics are becoming more common and have been bred in captivity, like the ferret. But others, like parrots, are frequently captured in the wild. Methods used to catch and transport animals from the wild are harsh and often end up killing the animals. This is especially true with birds and reptiles. Some breeds are taken from the wild to the point of endangering the native population.
Another consideration when looking at exotics is whether they are legal and how big and dangerous the animal may become as it grows. Even relatively small animals can pose dangers to humans, especially children. Because of their dangerous nature, some captive animals are de-clawed and de-fanged to make them safer. Rather than taking an animal from the wild, consider pets that have already been domesticated and are looking for loving homes.
Animals need medical care, too. Access to a veterinarian who is familiar with exotics needs to be considered. If there isn't a vet nearby who can deal with the animal, proper care will be more difficult and costly, especially if the pet gets sick and needs immediate attention. Another consideration is the potential for exotics to spread disease to native populations and people.
As much as owners want to properly care for their pet, some exotics do not adapt well to domesticated life. While a home offers security against predators, it cannot mimic the environment of a South American rain forest or an African plain or provide the social community of similar animals.
Spay and Neuter
Spaying or neutering a pet is one of the greenest decisions you can make. There is an overpopulation of pets, both pure and mixed breed, and millions of animals are euthanized every year.
Operation Catnip humanely traps feral cats so they can be sterilized and then returns them to the wild. The organization operates with volunteers who capture and release the animals, and veterinarians who donate time and resources to perform the surgeries. They have organizations in Raleigh, North Carolina; Gainesville, Florida; and Richmond, Virginia; and can process up to 100 cats in a matter of hours.
There are many programs available to assist with the cost of neutering or spaying a pet. There are also programs to spay and neuter cats that have been abandoned or are strays. These feral cats are wary of people and congregate in groups for protection and food. By releasing them back to their environment, the cats are allowed to say together without multiplying.
