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My 5-year-old son, the animal lover, got scratched by our cat last weekend. He really loves the cat, but as he cried me a river about the long scratch on his arm, he said, "Mommy, I think we should give away Cattan (the cat) and just get something simple like a parrot." Kids say the darnedest things! I was cracking up inside thinking about "simple like a parrot" as I nursed his wound and pretended to act like the world was indeed coming to an end.
"Oh I don't know, honey. A parrot actually isn't that simple. The require a lot of care," I explained.
He wiped his tears. "What about a big snake?"
Clearly,
this is a child who doesn't know his own mother. I'm as likely to get a
parrot or snake as I am a chimp. And after hearing about the recent chimp attack on the Connecticut woman, it leaves my wondering why anyone has dangerous exotic pets in their home. I also wonder if the woman now fighting for her life had any children at home with that chimpanzee. I couldn't imagine having an animal that could possible hurt my child
around (well, there's Cattan), but I know that many people take pride
in their exotic pets and believe that the dangers involved with having
them are very slim. We even have a group here on CM called Wildlife and Extrodinary Pets--one member actually has wolves. Wow!
What do you think? Should having exotic/dangerous pets around children be illegal?
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Comments (13)
No, it shouldn't be an illegal blanket law. Every animal is different, and everyone's understanding of that is different.
The woman with wolves is a fantastic woman who COMPLETELY understands their needs and drive. She's not stupid by any means. She makes sure the wolf gets everything she needs, and all the exercise and attention she needs as well.
ANYONE who doesn't take care of ANY pet properly is risking getting hurt. It doesn't matter if it's considered "exotic" or not.
No. I have pets considered exotic, and by some, dangerous. I have 2 ferrets. (Along with 2 cats and a dog.) I've had several people ask me why I would have such dangerous pets around my children. Neither one of them has bitten either one of my kids since they were kits (babies.) I trained them not to bite with simple redirection. I researched them before I got my first, and haven't ever had a problem. I've also taught my children what I call "pet manners." Common sense things that every child (and adult) should know and apply, no matter what kind of pet you have.
ok, the snake picture is gross! lol
The only pets I have had around my baby (DD- 10 months) are our dog & 6 cats. The cats are indoor & have all their claws. And yes, my DD has been scratched by the cats before, but it was because she was doing something that she shouldn't have been- pulling their tail, ears, legs, whiskers, etc. I try to keep her from doing those things, but sometimes I can't get to her fast enough, KWIM? Anyway, I am teaching her that this is how kitty says, "I don't like that."
Before I had my DD, I was married before. My ex & I had: 2 dogs, 4 cats, a rabbit, a rat, a ferret, 2 sugar gliders, & a ball python. They were all wonderful with our friends' children, even babies. But we had to make the effort to teach them how to hold them, how to pet them, what they don't like, etc.
Kids have to have respect for animals. It is completely unreasonable & quite frankly, stupid, to expect an animal to be docile & sweet when a child is basically doing whatever they want to that animal. I mean, hello- animals can feel pain too, because THEY ARE LIVING THINGS! Thus, we should be teaching our children respect for LIFE, not just respect for people.
JMO :)
My mother's "dog" is half huskey, half timber wolf. She is a sweet old animal now, but when she went through heat during her younger years she had to be isolated from young kids. My niece was the first to get "attacked". Parce Que, my mother's animal, didn't get far in attacking the one year old. My dog, Radja, a mixture of four different known fighting dogs and rescued from a fighting ring, attacked Parce Que as soon as Parce Que went to snap at my niece. Radja was pretty bloody by the time she escaped Parce Que and we got Parce Que isolated into the back yard area. My niece was shaken up, but Radja saved her from harm. Radja survived and lives with me now. Parce Que is still sleeping on my mom's living room floor. Parce Que is so old now, she's unable to get up from laying down without help. I'll stick with cats and dogs, though, myself. I never could get Parce Que fully trained.
I have always worked with one or another animal rescue all of my life. (many years now). Years ago with my first child I learned that young children have no compassion for animals. They will mall, sit on, hit, poke at the eyes and pull the ears, and worse. Young children should NEVER be left alone with any animal. If you have any animal in your house the small children and the animal should always be supervised. You must teach the compassion for animals to your child.
I'm sure you have all heard the stories of the cat laying on the baby and suffocating it. And the dog that ripped the baby out of the crib killing and dismembered it. You just never know, and for that reason you must always supervise the interaction. The long time owners of these animal had no clue that their loving animals of many years would be like this when the baby arrived.
I do not think we need another law to protect people from themselves. Why should the rest of us responsible pet owners and rescue workers have to suffer because some are irresponsible.
I really think you should be concerned more about your own child. Do you know that you can get a very bad infection from a cat scratch that is called Cat Scratch Fever? Please dont leave your small child alone with any pet, ever.
Thank you for listening.
My opinion is: Wild animals deserve to be in the wild. I have had dogs, cats, horses, chickens, even a ferret. I know all animals have the potential to be dangerous but some are more likely than others. Just ask my sister. She had her face severely bitten by a wolf that was "completely harmless". I blame my sister mostly for being stupid enough to go around a wolf. She has hopefully learned her lesson now that she has had to surgically get a new nose, lip and has half an ear.
I think exotic animals should be left in the wild. This is what they are used to. If they are living in a different environment, they might be okay for a while, but animals might snap after a while and attack maybe due to being homesick. It is not their lifestyle. Leave wild animals in the wild. Just my opinion.