Pets do not choose us;
We choose them.
The least we can do
Is choose very wisely
And take full responsibility for that choice.
Ocelots... leave 'em wild.
Wolves... let 'em be.
With so many choices available of animals that make wonderful pets and readily adapt to human companionship, why would anyone want to bring into their home an animal that does not fit this description? The answer is usually a mix of genuine but misguided interest in animals of all types, along with a strong need to bolster the ego by possessing some sort of exotic pet. Such people often mean well but usually do not understand the unusual problems they will almost assuredly inherit along with their very unusual animal. Though occasionally a particular individual wild animal will seem to adapt to human companionship, the vast majority of these exotic pet experiences end up tragically for the animal. According to a recent survey, the average life span of exotic pets is just three years. Furthermore, the very purchase of such animals encourages the continued exploitation of the wild population... a practice which is pushing some species toward extinction. Except for animals that are time-proven pets, let's allow the wild to live wild.
PETSTATION cannot endorse and actively discourages ownership of the following animal species as pets:
- African Wild Dogs
- Alligators, Crocodiles, Gavials, Caimans and all other crocodilians
- Apes, Monkeys, Lemurs or any other Primate
- Anacondas, Blood Pythons and other oversized and aggressive snakes (please do not acquire any Boid species unless you are prepared and able to care for it when it attains jumbo size)
- Antelopes
- Arachnids (Spiders) which are highly poisonous
- Armadillos
- Bats
- Bears
- Big cats of any kind, including Lions, Tigers, Cheetahs, Jaguars, Ocelots, Leopards, Mountain Lions, Servals, Bobcats, Lynx, etc.
- Binturongs
- Birds of prey
- Bush-babies
- Coati-mundis
- Coyotes or Coyote-dog hybrids
- Cuscus
- Deer
- Dingos
- Electric Eels, Piranhas or other dangerous fish
- Endangered species (except those in which legitimate and widespread domestic breeding programs exist)
- Foxes
- Gila monsters and other poisonous lizards
- Insects which are likely to carry disease
- Kangaroos or wallabies
- Kinkajous
- Koalas
- Nile monitors, Komodo dragons and other oversized and aggressive lizards
- Ocelots, Leopards, Mountain Lions, Servals, Bobcats, Lynx or any type of large cat
- Opossums
- Otters
- Platypuses
- Poison-dart frogs and other highly poisonous amphibians
- Poisonous snakes
- Porcupines
- Prairie Dogs
- Pronghorns
- Raccoons
- Sea Lions
- Seals
- Shrews
- Skunks
- Snapping turtles
- Squirrels
- Wolves or Wolf-dog hybrids
- Zebras
The foregoing is a partial list. Other species may be equally unsuitable as pets. Please remain within the wide and rewarding realm of time-proven pets when considering a possible non-human companion.
Apes or primates of any kind... don't even think about it.
IMPORTANT NOTICE!
PetStationers, please do not accost, accuse or otherwise quarrel with persons who may possess any of the above-listed animals. There may be good reason why they are keeping such animals. These reasons may include legitimate study, husbandry and/or a rescue situation. If you know the animal to be a species that is illegal to keep as a pet, or have strong evidence that the animal is being maintained in an inhumane manner or condition, or believe that the animal presents a definite safety threat to the community, contact a local rescue group that specializes in the particular type of animal, your local SPCA and/or law enforcement officials.
