Endangering Captive Exotic Cats

1180 Words3 Pages

Americans as a culture take as they see fit, in almost everything we do, this action of taking is what our country was ultimately founded on when the Europeans took the land we now call The United States of America. This grievously includes exotic animals, and in a more glamorized spotlight the exotic cat, for their private ownership. Americans glamorize owning exotic animals and associate the magnificent pet with a higher social and financial status. Simply one high profile example is in the movie The Hangover, released in 2009, towards the beginning of the movie, the viewer is introduced to what is later revealed to be Mike Tysons very large Bengal tiger. The producer of The Hangover glamorizes the ownership of the cat in pairing the visual with a high profile celebrity such as Tyson. Along with the glamorization, the film maker desensitizes the public to the dangers of this wondrous yet wild animal through imagery of the exotic cat wearing a domestic (diamond) collar-leash combination while sitting at the feet of Tyson as if it were the family Labrador. Despite the glamorous display and desensitization of owning such an impressive creature, these exotic animals are not your family’s loveable Labrador or peculiar kitten Mr. Whiskers. A tiger in a natural habitat would not curl up at your feet and give you pouty eyes for a treat. In the wild a lion would certainly not brush through your legs meowing daintily for their daily T-bone steak. The responsibility level of owning an exotic cat is far greater than your average lovable domestic family pet, of which the general public is not prepared for. As stated in Big Cats on a Short Leash in the Christian Science Monitor, “many new owners misjudge the level of care and safety needed ... ... middle of paper ... ...from Chase’s book in trying to right these horrific wrongs against nature. In a simple statement from Chase a profound message rings true, “Foolish people (such as we were) must never again be allowed to buy [exotic cats]. These beautiful animals were born free and deserve to stay that way.” Works Cited Balaban, Tanith, and Katherine Hessler. "Exotic animals as pets." GP Solo July-Aug. 2009: 42. LegalTrac. Web. 10 Mar. 2014. Chase, Alston. "Despite Good Intentions, Writer's Own Experience Proves Exotic Animals Aren't Suited To Domesticity." Enterprise/Salt Lake City 25.9 (1995): 13. Regional Business News. Web. 4 Mar. 2014. Holstrom, Davis. “Big cats on a short leash.” Christian Science Monitor. 03 Aug. 2000: 15. Academic Search Elite. Web. 24 Feb. 2014 Donelly, Thomas M., DVM. “Share the Knowledge.” Lab Animal 33.9 (2004): 7. Academic OneFile. Web. 24 Feb. 2014

Show More
Related

  • The Influences of Sor Juana and Julia de Burgos

    2059 Words  | 5 Pages

    The Cat. Pennsylvania State Library. University Park, PA. 4 Aug. 2003. O’Connell, Joanna.

    Read More

  • Felines in Egypt

    1184 Words  | 3 Pages

    Quarterly, Wilson. "When Cats Ruled The World." 24.1 (2000): n. pag. Web. 11 Mar 2011. .

    Read More

  • Why Should Exotic Animals Be Illegal

    536 Words  | 2 Pages

    Do you think that keeping exotic animals as pets should be legal? Well, I think that owning exotic animals as pets should be illegal. First, safety is a main concern for both the animals and for people. Secondly, it cost a very large amount of money to properly care for these animals; money people usually don’t have by themselves. Finally, it is against the law in many places to own these animals. Exotic animals should not be kept as pets.

    Read More

  • Domestic Cats Essay

    505 Words  | 2 Pages

    Today’s domestic house cats sure have changed and traveled far from their old wildcat ancestors across the world. Cats have traveled halfway across the world and now live around the world in various breeds and sizes. Even though they live today in their domesticated form they still retain some of the traits that their ancestors bestowed upon them. The African wildcat is believed to be the ancestor of all domestic cats, and they’re even still alive to this day. Over thousands of years of speciation, domestic house cats came to be from these wildcat ancestors.

    Read More

  • The Safety Risks Exotic Pets Pose

    620 Words  | 2 Pages

    Throughout the world, wild cats, reptiles and primates live peacefully in their natural habitats. Despite this, every year more and more of these exotic animals are becoming domestic pets. Keeping exotic animals as pets is unsafe and should therefore be made illegal. They pose a risk of injury, disease and invasion of the natural environment. Some people believe that keeping a pet does not pose a risk if properly kept and trained.

    Read More

  • Animal Overpopulation

    1416 Words  | 3 Pages

    There can be no doubt that shelters in the United States are overcrowded, feral cats roam our city streets, thousands of dogs live in grotesque conditions in puppy mills across the country, and yet most American citizens when polled will readily declare that their cat or dog is like ‘a member of the family’. The state of companion animals in this country is precarious at best; caught between scientists who subscribe to Descartes’s idea of ‘anima ex machina’ (unfeeling, a living example of biological processes without the status of ‘being’) and the more common phenomenon of people who pamper their pets in ways that most people would envy. For most individuals living in an urban society such as ours, the most common interaction with animals happens within the home – if the animals that we relate to and interact with the most continue to be abandoned and mistreated on a large scale, there must be some solution that involves more than just building more animal shelters or performing euthanasia more liberally.

    Read More

  • Addressing Premature Birth

    1657 Words  | 4 Pages

    Devlin, Hannah. "Don't Let The Forces Of Unreason Stop Research; Scientists Should Be Braver In Defending Animal Experiments And Open Up Their Labs Series: Editorial; Opinion, Columns." Times of London 7, 07 2013,: n. pag. eLibrary. Web. 12 Nov. 2013.

    Read More

  • The Pros And Cons Of Exotic Pet Trade

    1274 Words  | 3 Pages

    However, there are ways to correct the issues with the present system. If all 50 states and other countries around the world were to institute stricter regulations, such as those mentioned above, it would help make owning exotics safer. Animals like lions and puff adders have no place being in anyone’s home, but other animals like ball pythons and leopard geckos are reasonable. The most important thing that the authorities can do to help regulate the exotic pet trade and reduce the potential damage caused by it, is to educate the public. It is essential that people be involved in and aware of decisions that are being made. Especially decisions that concern their safety and that of the world around

    Read More

  • Argumentative Essay On Exotic Animals

    729 Words  | 2 Pages

    Imagine wanting not a puppy, but a tiger for your birthday, imagine the expenses of owning that tiger and the dangers and hazards of owning that tiger. Do you really think it’s a good idea to get that tiger? No, it’s not a question. It’s a lot of work, and it’s also very dangerous. Exotic animals are not good to buy and have.

    Read More

  • Why Are Bans On Reptiles Important?

    2048 Words  | 5 Pages

    Periodically, there are news stories about a giant pet snake that eats a kid, or a pet cobra that escapes and terrorizes a town. Most people think these stories are exaggerated, however, these stories are completely true. People keep exotic animals as pets for the wow factor. Humans believe they can control all animals regardless if the animal is dangerous or not. Some people like keeping deadly animals in their house because it gives them that shock factor. Or, owning a venomous snack makes them feel powerful. Only trained professionals should work with large carnivorous reptiles, venomous reptiles and large snakes capable of constricting a person to

    Read More

  • Are Zoos Good or Bad for Animals?

    1123 Words  | 3 Pages

    Lemonick, Michael D. “Who Belongs in the Zoo?” Time. Time, 11 June 2006. Web. 12 Dec.

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay On Raising Exotic Animals

    533 Words  | 2 Pages

    Owning an exotic animal like a lion or a tiger might sound like fun, but in truth it is a tremendous responsibility. Select few people, like the staff members at a wildlife conservation center or animal rescue operation, might be fit for the task of keeping and raising exotic animals but many other people try to raise them as well. These people are, decidedly, unfit for the task and ignorant of what raising a specific exotic animal will entail. The most unfit of these people are the impulse buyers. The ones who see a cute or pretty exotic animal on TV or on the internet and decide that they just have to have one despite knowing little to nothing about the animal they have just purchased.

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay On Exotic Animals

    601 Words  | 2 Pages

    Having exotic animals as pets is immoral and dangerous. They endanger the community, become sick, and their owners abandon them. Each State in the USA has a different law against exotic animals; multiple allow exotic pets, some allow restriction, and few do not permit exotic pets. Even if keeping an exotic animal is illegal, some one will go against the law to have what he or she wants. You may think ‘i can take good care of an animal. It will be better off with me,’ but it won't. Every country should have and exotic animal ban and realize the hurt one is causing to these poor

    Read More

  • Why We Should Exotic Animals Not Be Kept As Pets

    789 Words  | 2 Pages

    There is so much risk going into owning an exotic pet. Also if you bring an exotic pet into captivity from the wild, they will have a

    Read More

  • Stray Cats Case Study

    797 Words  | 2 Pages

    The problem of stray cats is serious in HongKong. The government caught a large number of stray cats every year. Despite the fact that some of them will be sent to animal organizations for adoption, most of them still have to be killed by euthanasia. In HongKong, many animal lovers and organizations claim that this is too cruel and the welfare of animals are exploited. They proposed another new way to control the population of the street cats which is the “Trap-Neuter-Return” program (TNR). It has been introduced since 1980s in Europe. By the definition provided by SPCA , stray cats will be trapped by volunteers and will be neutered. For those which are docile, will be sent for public to adopt. Meanwhile, the others will be returned to the site of capture and release.

    Read More

More about Endangering Captive Exotic Cats

Open Document