Should Wildlife Be Kept as Pets - Assignment Example

Should wildlife be kept as pets? Concept Map Animals should not be kept as pets. People should strongly oppose the keeping of wild animals as pets. Such opinion is applicable to both species which are native and nonnative, whether captured in bred in captivity or in the wild. The great mainstreams of citizens who acquire these animals are incapable of providing the care that wild animals call for. It is recognized by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) that, initially animals of the wild are commonly sustained in custody or captivity as animal companions, for exhibition, for breeding purposes and for research activities, second is that particular wild animals species, when took under ownership of responsibility, may represent no considerable vulnerability to the health of humans, other species of animals, the upbringing and setting, or to the animals in particular. Some species or sole animals of the majority of species, when subject under ownership which is irresponsible may, for a fact, become a danger to people, to their health, to the environment and to other animals (Judah & Nuttall 2008). People obtain pets in wild animals for the reason that they like to own strange pets or consider them as symbols of their status. There are a lot of associated problems with wild animals which include diet, disease, exercise, traumatic injury and housing. Wild animals maintained pets are commonly subjected to a variety of surgical procedures for the exclusive intention of making the animal more cordially suitable to its holder or owner. The disposing of a wild animal can also be an upsetting and distressing incident for both owner and animal. Commonly, the valid and legal zoos will not admit them given that they are too domesticated to be returned to the environment of the wild; as a result, the only alternative can be through euthanasia. There are various facts associated with regard to obtaining wild animals as pets which include: People keep exotic or wild animals as pets for the purposes of decoration or display, trophy or status, novelty or curiosity, a substitute for a child or only because they perceived them as cute. Pet stores and breeders play on the demand of the public for newborn wild animals, putting them on sale as “pets” (Judah & Nuttall 2008). However when the uniqueness of possessing an exotic or wild pet dies away or the adolescent stage of the animals or the demands of adult animals become out of control, these creatures are demoted to cages in garages, backyards, basements, or other places which are much worse. Some of them may be resold, reentering the wild animals market to be subject again to sale in roadside zoos, or become exotic food for other carnivores, or as prizes in canned chases. Merely a small number of them land at safe havens whereas many are killed or abandoned. Whether small or large, exotic or native, imported or captive bred, the wild animals which are kept as pets suffers enormously from imprisonment, parting from their own kind improper diet, and surgeries carried out in the attempt to domesticate or make them less precarious. Another reason why exotic and wild animals should not be kept as pets is because they call for appropriate care which necessitates substantial knowledge and capability, specific facilities, and full amount of commitment and dedication to the needs of the animals. When wild animals are made pets, their lives are to be expected to be crammed with desolation. Frequently they pine away in a restricted patch cage or round continuously in an aquarium or cat carrier. Their affliction may start with imprison, each year birds and reptiles, millions in number suffer and pass away on the flight from their environment to their destination pet store. The trade of wild-pet pressures the very being of some other species. Having a small number of exceptions, wild animals are complicated or unworkable to take care of. They usually grow to be stronger, larger and more treacherous than the owners anticipate or what can they control. Their social and nutritional needs are in general strange, and diagnosing medical problems is complex for the inexperienced owner. They can also create a threat to the health of humans and safety through parasites and disease (Fuller 1994). Wild animals are not tamed and disciplined just by hand-raised by a human mother or being captive-born. It is a totally different account with cats and dogs, who were disciplined many years ago. These particular companion animals depend on people for shelter, food, affection and veterinary care. On the other hand, wild animals, by nature are self-sufficient, and they can live fare best without any human interference. Like any animal that matures, the call for a mother fades and the instinctual manners of the fully developed animal substitute the behavior of dependence of the infant or adolescent. As anticipated, the then cute baby wild animal turns into a violent biter or manifests vicious and apparently unpredictable behavior devoid of aggravation or admonition. Such animal has turn out to be a difficulty and is moreover abandoned, conceded from owner to owner, or left of in other ways possible. The ownership of any animal calls for being responsible for providing apposite and gentle care. In the case of wild animals are concerned, meeting this accountability is frequently unattainable; perpetually it is the animals that go through the sufferings (The Association of Santuaries, Inc. 2007). Individuals should not keep wild or exotic animals as pets. Exotic and wild animals are incompatible for handling and home rearing. They possess compound needs that are not easy to provide. Most of the individuals have neither the experiences nor the finances to properly care for them. It has been anticipated that within the first two years of captivity, 90% of them die. Numerous wild animals strained into a household environment can inflict injury to humans, in particular to children, the others, if set free back into their environment, can root irreparable and expensive harms to the ecological unit (Nielsen 1999). The point wherein captivity can be justified is when wild animals should only be kept in custody by specialized zoological facilities. The sole individuals who must be permitted to have wild animals are certain breeders and qualified wildlife rehabilitators. In both of those cases, they ought to display a comprehensive understanding of their field and an aptitude to be concerned for the animal compassionately (Harrison 2006). Animals in roaming acts in addition present extensive hazard to the community (Hunter & Andrew 2002). One predominantly infamous act drawn in a wrestling bear, even though declawed and muzzled, can manage to break bones and bite off fingers. Moreover, exotic and wild animals bring a number of threatening diseases which are infectious to humans, such as tuberculosis, rabies, tularemia, hepatitis, salmonella, leptospirosis, and ringworm. The trade of exotic wild animals can lead to ecological damage. Wild animals frequently flee; others are neglected and dumped by their owners. If ever they survive and have become customary in an upbringing where they do not originally belong, they contend with the inhabitant animals for the area’s limited resources, in some cases totally displacing and overtaking the native animals, much to the disadvantage of the entire ecological unit (The Association of Santuaries, Inc 2007). The future holds a lot of risks for an exotic or wild animal in captivity. Most of the owners are unaware of the needs of a wild animal. Their local veterinarian can neither effectively treat health problems nor properly diagnose (Wallach & Boever 1993). The behavior of the animal is more often than not misunderstood and frequently drastically changed in custody as a consequence of improper care; in order to tame and train the animal, the owner turns into such ways termed as "corrective measures" like declawing, castration and defanging. And sometimes, the owner will then decide to get rid of the animal, it is typically not possible to find them a new home. Apparently, other people are no better outfitted in comparison with the original owner to care for them; of good reputation zoos, for many reasons, in general do not admit such animals, and facilities that will take them ought to be considered with suspicion. The small numbers of sanctuaries which exist are usually extended to the contravention point, and animal shelters in local areas are hardly equipped to manage anything unusual (Fuller 1994). Keeping exotic animals as pets can also come with a hidden expensive cost. Exotic animals like scarlet macaws, pythons and kinkajous have captured the hearts of many animal-lovers looking for companions. Wild animals have long been in existence for thousands of years with no the direct interference or any influence of humans. They have their own adaptations which help them to survive in their own compound surroundings. They are not adapted to living in inside any household. It is substantially wrong to consider having a wild animal as a pet (Festa-Bianchet & Apollonio 2003). There are many imperative reasons why humans should not keep wild animals as pets: Primarily, humans are incapable of providing the right home for them. Wild animals have intrinsic complex social, psychological, behavioral and nutritional needs. Most of the people basically are incapable of meeting the needs of pets in the form of wild animals. They have to be with the members of their own class or species and definitely, not with humans. Taking them away from their environment and holding them in captivity can endanger their specie (The Association of Santuaries, Inc 2007). It is dangerous to keep wild animals; they can scratch, bite and attack their owners, as well as the owner’s guests and children. The owners of the animal are lawfully accountable for any injuries, damage or infections brought by their animals and finding new homes for large, hard to control animals can be difficult, if not impossible, particularly since majority of the zoos are incapable of accepting them (Cunny 2001). For the reasons of selfishness alone, Americans must avoid having exotic animals as pets. The hazards of long claws and sharp teeth are very apparent, however so goes are the perils of diseases, which can be acquired by humans from animals (The New York Times 2003). People must definitely oppose the ownership of animals, as another reason, keeping them is bad, individually or for their entire species. In reality, there is no one who is in capacity of giving exotic pets, no matter what their size is, the environment that they will still enjoy is still the wild. The rate of death in the traffic of wild and exotic animals, specifically for the reptiles is dreadful as well as the marauding the populations of the wild as pets has devastated some animal species, for instance are the tortoises. The limits among the wilderness and domestication are not a simple issue. It is, significantly, a natural fact and also a reality in terms of culture. There are some kinds of animals who have been trained and tamed, each single one, but only a few of them has actually been domesticated, and those are the ones considered to be kept as pets. The attempt to obstruct the ownership and trading of the wild animals has been very gradual and slow. On the other hand, each effort is a help. Recently, the United States’ Senate is on the point of considering passing a bill called the Captive Wildlife Safety Act, which, have some evident exceptions, but will avoid the throughways of big cats in commerce, this is a similar bill already introduced by the House before. This particular bill is by Senator John Ensign anf Senator James Jefford, who happens to be both veterinarians. They will both preside the meeting regarding the diseases associated with the ownership of wild animals and the monkeypox epidemic which is to be blamed for the prairie dogs and the Gambian rats, thus they will constantly assert that no single wild animal should be kept as a pet (The New York Times 2003). For PAWS exotic wild animals are inappropriate as pets they strongly opposes the private ownership of exotic or those not naturally from the local areas wild animals for the reason that there are natural threats to the safety and health of humans and as well as the involved cruelty in keeping such animals under their custodies which are unnatural environments for them. These species include animals like the monkeys and other primates which are non-human, reptiles, bears and the termed pocket-pets such as the prairie dogs, sugragliders and hedgehogs, the wolf-hybrid dogs which are non-domesticated canines and leopards and tigers of the feline group except for the household cats (Progressive Animal Welfare Society 2008). With the emergence of the popularity of shopping in the Internet, a lot of these animal groups are very convenient to purchase, another issue are the pet stores in local areas which sell these kinds of animals which do not possess any obligation in verifying the legality of personal possession with possible buyers. The exotic wild animals, as well as those who are already bred in captivity, still have intrinsic physical and social needs and their innate mental stimulation which are impossible to meet in private homes. Many of the animals by nature exist in colonies, however are kept as sole pets. Harsh world-weariness substitutes their typical behaviors such as climbing, grooming one another, mating, foraging for food and rearing their young that will dwell in their attention and time. This kind of boredom can then lead to aggression, illness and self-destruction. The differences in typical weather and environment can also produce pressure on these animals and reduce the value of or curtail their own lives. Any average person is lacking the knowledge and expertise of providing husbandry, medical care and proper nutrition. Looking for a veterinarian who will be willing to work on with these animals has been proven to be difficult. There are some animals that grow very large that their owners may find that they can no longer afford to adequately feed them adequately and then the animals suffer extreme hunger and will lead to malnutrition. The painful and unnecessary defanging and declawing is often done in the attempts of keeping the animals from being capable of inflicting serious and severe harms. Animals are usually housed in settings which are entirely deficient of enrichment and growth (Girling 2003). In the event that the owners have become tired of the care and cost, or if they feel that they can no longer manage the animal, they will resort to finding a suitable place for them, though it is very difficult. Majority of the zoos are unwilling to take them under custody, especially for the hybrid types (Girling 2003). Since these animals can spread diseases when they are released in local areas, some local agencies of animal control have no choice but to perform a routinely euthanasia for the exotic animals since there is absence of other alternatives or resources. Everything single element in nature has their own role to play. When humans take a certain creature out of its natural environment, for instance, taking a creature out of the wild and subject it into captivity, then humans are hindering it to play its role in nature. Under captivity, the creature will be incapable of breeding, to play its part in the nutrient cycles and food web, to provide parasites their home for processes of evolution (Gibbs & Bokma 2002). Even keeping them in captivity for a short period of time can already result of forgoing chances and opportunities and might lead to death due to starvation. Each piece of any intricate puzzle, if taken away from a particular system can weaken the entirety of a bigger system. When an animal is taken out of its nature humans, they have also deprived the people of the educational and aesthetic values that they should be able to experience by actual encounter to the animal in its biological environment. (Festa-Bianchet & Apollonio 2003) Generally, wild animals do not make ideal pets, except if they have started their lives in captivity and if they were raised by experienced handlers, those who are knowledgeable enough of the animals’ nature. They usually do not adjust well enough to captivity. Usually animals which are acquired while they were young normally grow in the ability of their owners to control them and later on become dangerous and out of control. It is a challenge to provide for the wild animals the appropriate conditions for a safe, captive and humane way of life. They require specific diets and more particular facilities, they are not social animals, they have difficulty with adjusting, and therefore they have no choice but to summon themselves in solitary confinement. Presently, there is a rampant progressing number of species in the wild which are declining (Green 1999). Taking them out of their biological nature is a great factor as to why they are declining. Majority of their populations have been subjected to commerce and collection. It is illegal to keep a wild animal without permit, however not all animals are being protected. It is the tasks of the wildlife agencies, both state and provincial levels to issue the permits only to qualified institutions and individuals to keep them in captivity for the purpose of rehabilitation, propagation, research and education (Fowler & Cubaz 2001). Pets can serve as a valuable basis of companionship and can even make way for the children the opportunity of learning responsibility. Humans know the animals which make good pets, the dogs, cats, common hamsters, guinea pigs, domestic rabbits, tropical fishes and other domesticated animals, and humans should not go beyond them. Humankind has already spent many years to domesticate a broad range of animals, and such animals are now very well adapted and maybe also dependent in the nature of captivity. There is actually no need to trample on the issue of ethical, legal and practical reasons, logically, wild animals are really not meant to become pets. Humans must understand that, and they should not keep wild animals as pets. Annotated Bibliography 1) Festa-Bianchet, M, & Apollonio, M, 2003, Animal Behavior and Wildlife Conservation, Island Presss; 1 edition. Type of reference: Book Do the title and abstract give a good indication of what the article is about? Yes, the book gave a good indication on what it is all about. Does the introduction give background and a clear set of purpose or objectives? Yes, the book clearly delivered a clear set of objectives. What is the main thrust of argument or conclusions reached? It examines the significance of general principles, and the role performed by the characteristics of various species, as well as the importance of giving consideration on the behavior of individuals and the strategies they have to do to adopt. Quality of Argument: The reference is clear with its points and shows clarity in all its discussions. Value of the reference: The book explains how knowledge of individual differences and animal behavior can help increase the effectiveness of the wildlife conservation programs. 2) Fuller, K, 1994, International Wildlife Trade: A Cites Sourcebook, Island Press; 1 edition. Type of reference: Book Do the title and abstract give a good indication of what the article is about? Yes, the book gave a good indication on what it is all about. Does the introduction give background and a clear set of purpose or objectives? Yes, the book clearly delivered a clear set of objectives. What is the main thrust of argument or conclusions reached? The chapters of the book addresses the status of the highly threatened species, like the rhinos, tigers, elephants as well as other species who have been exploited like the bears, primates and parrots. Quality of Argument: The reference is clear with its points and shows clarity in all its discussions. Value of the reference: It offers an invaluable overview of issues in wildlife trade as well as the strengths and weaknesses of the treaty. 3) Green, A, 1999, Animal Underworld: Inside America’s Black Market for Rare and Exotic Species, PublicAffairs. Type of reference: Magazine Article Do the title and abstract give a good indication of what the article is about? Yes, the article gave a good indication on what it is all about. Does the introduction give background and a clear set of purpose or objectives? Yes, the article clearly delivered a clear set of objectives. What is the main thrust of argument or conclusions reached? The author examines the fate of unwanted animals cast off by zoos and theme parks in the United States. Quality of Argument: The overall content of the reference is clear with its points and shows clarity in all its discussions. Value of the reference: Many of the leading zoos are reported to be selling unwanted animals and then later on dump the animals onto unaccredited petting zoos, roadside attractions, bogus sanctuaries and private hunting parks that will hand over endangered species to anyone for a buck. 4) Judah, V & Nuttall, K, 2008, Exotic Animal Care and Management, CENGAGE Delmar Learning; 1 edition. Type of reference: Journal Do the title and abstract give a good indication of what the article is about? Yes, the journal gave a good indication on what it is all about. Does the introduction give background and a clear set of purpose or objectives? Yes, the journal clearly delivered a clear set of objectives. What is the main thrust of argument or conclusions reached? This journal tackles the habitat, behavior, diet and husbandry of each species, and it recognizes the diseases caused by keeping exotics due to lack of specific information. Quality of Argument: The journal content is clear with its points and shows clarity in all its discussions. Value of the reference: It is a comprehensive text which covers proper ways of caring for exotic animals in a clinical setting. 5) Progressive Animal Welfare Society, 2008, Exotic Wild Animals are Inappropriate as Pets viewed 4 April 2008, http://www.paws.org/outreach/campaigns/exoticpets.php. Type of reference: Organization website Do the title and abstract give a good indication of what the article is about? Yes, the website of the organization gave a good indication on what it is all about. Does the introduction give background and a clear set of purpose or objectives? Yes, the website clearly delivered a clear set of its purpose. What is the main thrust of argument or conclusions reached? This organization strongly opposes keeping wild animals as pets. They asserted that exotic animals should stay in the wild and should not be taken away from their biological environment. Quality of Argument: The reference is clear with its points and shows clarity in all its discussions. Value of the reference: The organization convincingly discussed the possible threats that come along in keeping wild animals as pets. 6) The Association of Santuaries, Inc., 2007, Wild Animals are Wonderful, But They are Not Pets, Kendalia, Texas. Type of reference: Journal Do the title and abstract give a good indication of what the article is about? Yes, the journal gave a good indication on what it is all about. Does the introduction give background and a clear set of purpose or objectives? Yes, the journal clearly delivered a clear set of objectives. What is the main thrust of argument or conclusions reached? The journal tackles the assumptions why humans tend to keep wild animals as pets, as well as the hazards of keeping them as pets. Quality of Argument: The reference is clear with its points and shows clarity in all its discussions. Value of the reference: It strongly opposes the private ownership of wild animals and that they should be preserve in their natural environment. 7) The Problem of Exotic Pets, The New York Times, 13 July 2003. Type of reference: Newspaper article Do the title and abstract give a good indication of what the article is about? Yes, the article gave a good indication on what it is all about. Does the introduction give background and a clear set of purpose or objectives? Yes, the article clearly delivered a clear set of objectives. What is the main thrust of argument or conclusions reached? This article discusses the dangers of keeping wild animals as pets, specifically the prairie dogs and the Gambian rats which are to be blamed for the widespread of monkeypox and SARS. Quality of Argument: The reference is clear with its delivery of its points and it shows clarity in all its discussions. Value of the reference: It serves as an eye opener for the people what harm animals can cause if they are kept as pets, especially the animals from the wild. References: 1. Cunny, L, 2001, Through Animals Eyes: True Stories from a Wildlife Sanctuary, University of North Texas Press. 2. Festa-Bianchet, M, & Apollonio, M, 2003, Animal Behavior and Wildlife Conservation, Island Presss; 1 edition. 3. Fowler, M. & Cubas, Z, 2001, Biology, Medicine, and Surgery of South American Wild Animals, Iowa State University Press. 4. Fuller, K, 1994, International Wildlife Trade: A Cites Sourcebook, Island Press; 1 edition. 5. Gibbs, P. & Bokma, B, 2002, The Domestic Animal/Wildlife Interface: Issues for Disease Control, Conservation, Sustainable Food Production, and Emerging Diseases, New York Academy of Sciences. 6. Girling, S, 2003, Veterinary Nursing of Exotic Pets, Wiley-Blackwell; 1 edition. 7. Green, A, 1999, Animal Underworld: Inside America’s Black Market for Rare and Exotic Species, PublicAffairs; 1 edition. 8. Harrison, T, 2006, Wildlife Warrior: More Tales of Suburban Safaris, Orange Frazer Press. 9. Hunter, L. & Andrew, D, 2002, Watching Wildlife: Central America (Lonely Planet) Lonely Planet Publications. 10. Judah, V & Nuttall, K, 2008, Exotic Animal Care and Management, CENGAGE Delmar Learning; 1 edition. 11. Nielsen, L, 1999, Chemical Immobilization of Wild and Exotic Animals, Blackwell Publishing Professional. 12. Progressive Animal Welfare Society, 2008, Exotic Wild Animals are Inappropriate as Pets viewed 4 April 2008, http://www.paws.org/outreach/campaigns/exoticpets.php. 13. The Association of Santuaries, Inc., 2007, Wild Animals are Wonderful, But They are Not Pets, Kendalia, Texas. 14. The Problem of Exotic Pets, The New York Times, 13 July 2003. 15. Wallach, D. & Boever, W, 1993, Diseases of Exotic Animals: Medical and Surgical Management. 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