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A Word on Happenstance Exotic Pet Adoption

 

Don't.

I suppose, for the purpose of clarification, I should offer a touch more than that single word...  It breaks my heart to think of the misery inflicted by generally well-intentioned individuals who stumble upon an unusual pet and adopt it on a whim, completely ignorant of the type of care the poor critter requires to keep it both healthy and happy.  Glancing over my recent snake adoption post, I realized that it might appear to readers that this is exactly what I had done; lucked into an opportunity to pick up an exotic animal and made a snap decision to bring it home where it could suffer in a pool of my impulse-tinged ignorance.  First, I want to assure that this is absolutely not the case.  Then, I'd like to talk a little bit about exotic pets, and offer a little unsolicited advice.

 

Hypocrite, much?

I will readily admit that our decision to adopt this snake took all of five minutes, but our decision to adopt a snake took a few months.  In weighing our options, we took several different factors into consideration - the general temperament of the species, average size and weight, average life span, feeding issues, susceptibility to disease, climate requirements, space requirements, habitat considerations, common genetic disorders, etc...  By the time we were done with our research, we had a fair amount of knowledge and felt confident in our ability to care for up to two constrictors from a number of readily available species; having already identified a local breeder, we planned on adopting one later this year.  When the opportunity to adopt our new ball python unexpectedly arose, we were already well aware of our ability to properly care for him; the only decision we had to make was whether or not we wanted to give this guy the loving home he needed... and that was a no-brainer.

I mention this, not as some kind of fallacious, "better than thou" diatribe, but to make it clear that I don't hold other families to different standards than I hold my own.

 

What exactly are we talking about here?

Before I go any further, I want to clarify just what I mean when I refer to an "exotic pet".  Fact is, there isn't universal agreement as to what constitutes an exotic pet, and legal definitions vary by location.  Personally, I consider dogs, cats, mice, gerbils, hamsters, small birds, and small freshwater fish to be domestic pets; if it doesn't fit in that list, I consider it an exotic pet.  I base these classifications on the concept of common knowledge - most reasonable adults would be able to care for the animals in my list of domestic pets with little or no instruction.  Above the threshold of common knowledge, an adopted animal is fairly unlikely to suffer due to the ignorance of it's new caretaker.  Below the threshold of common knowledge, ignorance related suffering, injuries, and deaths are depressingly common.

 

Things to think about

Our family has cared for a number of exotic pets, and we have plans to adopt more in the coming year, so I want to make it clear that I'm in no way against the adoption of exotics as long as they can be cared for properly.  Also, while I am against exotic pet bans, I'm generally not against reasonably strict permit requirements; especially in the case of rare, fragile, and dangerous animals.  For those among you who are interested in exotic animals, I've compiled a short list of considerations:

Habitat: The habitat requirements of exotic pets frequently go beyond the simple provision of shelter, which all pets require.  Cold-blooded animals require a range of heat zones within their primary habitat, with highs and lows dependent on the species, so that they can properly regulate their body temperature.  Specific humidity levels must also be maintained for cold-blooded species, with some requiring a semi-aquatic habitat.  The size and shape of the habitat must also be considered; arboreal animals like golden geckos, chameleons, and sloths require largely vertical habitats, whereas vertical space for leopard geckos and ball pythons would be largely wasted.  Also, don't be fooled into thinking that the size of the animal determines the size of their habitat - tiny sugar gliders* (which have become VERY popular in recent years) require a disproportionately HUGE amount of space.  Responsible pet caretakers learn everything they can about their pet's natural habitat, and do their best to recreate that habitat in their home.

Food:  While food for rats, ferrets, lizards, and other popular exotic pets is becoming more common in the pet food aisle, most exotic species require a more specialized diet than your average kibble will provide.  Many exotic species, like raccoons and sugar gliders*, require a variety of fresh foods that have to be prepared daily.  Predatory species, obviously, need prey, and not all species will accept pre-killed food.  Consider the nutritional needs of your desired pets carefully before committing to caring for them; make sure you have multiple sources for purchasing food, the ability to store it, and the money to pay for it.

Social needs:  I know a number of individuals that wound up adopting a second domestic pet in order to keep their first domestic pet from feeling lonely, and subsequently destroying their house, while they were away at work or school.  For some exotic pets, however, companionship isn't a nicety, it's a necessity.  Sugar gliders*, for example, are highly social mammals that experience a significant, and in some cases deadly, amount of stress when denied the companionship of other sugar gliders their same age.  Rats and ferrets, also very common pets, have similar needs for same-species companionship.  Conversely, hedgehogs, snakes, and many lizard species prefer (or even require) a solitary environment.  Those tiny snakes at the pet store, all huddled together like they're enjoying a good cuddle?  What they're actually "enjoying" is the stress of attempting to hold on to the territory their instincts say they need to survive.

Veterinary care:  My family is extremely fortunate to have an exotic animal veterinarian close by, but most exotic pet caretakers aren't that lucky.  Make sure you've located and spoken with at least one veterinarian in your area that has experience with the exotic pet you're considering before you make that final decision to adopt.  An emergency is no time to be thumbing through the phone book.  Make an appointment for a well-animal check with your vet as soon as possible, and be sure to ask them for an appropriate back-up referral in case your pet needs immediate attention and your primary vet is unavailable.

Back-up care:  It can be difficult to find a home for displaced domestic pets when their caretakers are no longer able to care for them due to unexpected circumstances, illness, or death; this difficulty increases dramatically for exotic pets.  I would suggest, at the very least, being aware of local exotic animal rescues and discussing with family and friends how you would like your pets cared for in an emergency.  Also, please remember that granting custody of an exotic animal to a loved one in a will isn't quite like granting custody of a domestic animal.  Make sure that the people you name as caretakers for your animals are well-versed in their care, capable of providing the life they deserve, and above all, willing to take on the responsibility.

Local laws/ordinances:  It's easy to assume that any pet you can purchase on the internet is legal to own, but that is absolutely not the case.  Poachers and shady exotic animal dealers are more than happy to ship animals all over the world without any regard for the animal's well-being, or it's local legality.  Do your homework - there are federal, state, county, city/town, and even HOA/community ordinances to consider before adopting an exotic animal. 

HONESTY:  This is a big one for me.  Lying to yourself about your capabilities to care for an exotic pet is a recipe for stress; both for you and for your pet.  My mind boggles at how many people out there actually think they can properly care for exotic animals like kinkajous and sloths, let alone tigers and bears.  The number of reptiles, hedgehogs, sugar gliders*, and other more common exotic pets that are relinquished to rescues every year testifies to the fact that even relatively "easy" exotics are too much to handle for many people.

By the way, the fact that a particular exotic animal can be readily purchased online and legally owned in your area isn't any sort of indication that it can be reasonably cared for as a household pet.  In my home state, Colorado, there are a number of areas in which I can legally own a freakin' wallaby.  SHOULD I own a wallaby?  Of course not.  Wallabies require fairly large amounts of varied, freshly prepared food every day along with specially formulated pellets.  They're easily stressed and are vulnerable to diseases transmitted by domestic animals.  They can literally be bored sick, and in extreme cases, to death.  They can be dangerous - there have been several incidences in which wallabies have attacked and injured children.  They require a great deal of space.  They require veterinary care from someone unlikely to scream "IS THAT A FREAKIN' WALLABY???" the second you enter their office, like our vet most certainly would.  In essence, captive wallabies require a level of care that is typically only found in zoos or professional wildlife preserves and sanctuaries.

"Can own "and "should own" are very different things; that some people apparently lack the discernment to differentiate between the two is why I'm not against reasonable permit requirements.  Again, I'm not against exotic pet adoption, but I don't go out of my way to encourage it either.  All too often, exotic animals are purchased as a novelty rather than adopted as a responsibility, and the animals suffer as a result.

 

This is only a handful of the considerations that should be taken into account when considering an exotic pet.  Please, do your homework.

 

*You may get the impression that I think sugar gliders make horrible pets, but that's not entirely true.  More accurately, I think that sugar gliders are extremely difficult pets to care for appropriately and it makes me very sad to think of how many of these adorable critters are suffering the ignorance of less-than-knowledgeable caretakers.  Sugar gliders require the companionship of at least one other sugar glider of the same age, though groups of three of more are preferable.  They also require very large vertical habitats, made from materials that won't injure their feet, and a varied diet of fresh fruits, vegetables, and insects; they may also require calcium supplements lest they suffer a common form of paralysis.  They're nocturnal, and vocal, so keeping them in a bedroom is probably a bad idea, and they are messy, messy, messy critters.  Seriously, rats and parrots are practically neat-freaks compared to sugar gliders.  Also, unlike other small rodents, sugar gliders can live more than 15 years in captivity, and therefore represent a long-term commitment.

 

Once upon a time, we had considered adopting two sugar gliders... but in the end, we decided we were unlikely to be able to give them the kind of care they deserved.