Animal sanctuaries
Interest in exotic pets often follows the latest craze. Mutant Ninja Turtles sparked the novelty of keeping red-eared terrapins, Harry Potter films started a craze for owls and Finding Nemo caused a surge of people wanting to keep tropical clownfish. But when the excitement of an exotic pet fades, or owners realise how difficult and expensive it is to care for them, many animals are abandoned. Some are handed over to rescue centres while others are simply released. The RSPCA deals with more than 5,000 calls about exotic animals a year. There are numerous stories of animals, such as degus and red-eared terrapins, being released, many dying because they can’t find suitable food or cannot survive in the unnatural climate and habitat (CAPS).
Young exotic animals can be irresistibly adorable - until the cuddly baby becomes bigger and stronger than the owner ever imagined. The instinctive behavior of the adult animal replaces the dependent behavior of the juvenile, resulting in biting, scratching, and displaying destructive behaviors without provocation or warning. Such animals typically become too difficult to manage and are all too often confined to small cages, passed from owner to owner, or disposed of in other ways. There are not enough sanctuaries or other facilities to properly care for unwanted wild animals so they can end up back in the exotic pet trade or being released into the wild where, if they survive, they disrupt the local ecosystem.
If you are considering getting an exotic pet, why not contact your local animal sanctuary to offer a home to an unwanted exotic animal who really needs one, as there are thousands of exotic animals in the UK right now just waiting for a loving new home. Rescue animals are not always adults and sanctuaries will often have exactly what you are looking for. If you would like help finding a sanctuary in your area or a sanctuary that specialises in rehoming a particular species please contact us and will be happy to put you in touch with a rescue that will be able to help you.
Many thanks to The Captive Animals' Protection Society for the above information which is taken from their 'Exotic Animals are Not Pets' factsheet. We highly recommend you visit http://www.captiveanimals.org/images/Exotic%20pet%20factsheet.pdf and read this factsheet in full in its original format. Please support CAPS and their invaluable work by visiting their website at http://www.captiveanimals.org and seeing how you can help.
Young exotic animals can be irresistibly adorable - until the cuddly baby becomes bigger and stronger than the owner ever imagined. The instinctive behavior of the adult animal replaces the dependent behavior of the juvenile, resulting in biting, scratching, and displaying destructive behaviors without provocation or warning. Such animals typically become too difficult to manage and are all too often confined to small cages, passed from owner to owner, or disposed of in other ways. There are not enough sanctuaries or other facilities to properly care for unwanted wild animals so they can end up back in the exotic pet trade or being released into the wild where, if they survive, they disrupt the local ecosystem.
If you are considering getting an exotic pet, why not contact your local animal sanctuary to offer a home to an unwanted exotic animal who really needs one, as there are thousands of exotic animals in the UK right now just waiting for a loving new home. Rescue animals are not always adults and sanctuaries will often have exactly what you are looking for. If you would like help finding a sanctuary in your area or a sanctuary that specialises in rehoming a particular species please contact us and will be happy to put you in touch with a rescue that will be able to help you.
Many thanks to The Captive Animals' Protection Society for the above information which is taken from their 'Exotic Animals are Not Pets' factsheet. We highly recommend you visit http://www.captiveanimals.org/images/Exotic%20pet%20factsheet.pdf and read this factsheet in full in its original format. Please support CAPS and their invaluable work by visiting their website at http://www.captiveanimals.org and seeing how you can help.
