Exotic Animals As Pets: An Unregulated Risk

We chose to copy this headline from an opinion piece in the New York Times verbatim-how could we improve upon it? The author, Peter Laufer, a journalism professor at the University of Oregon, is no  stranger to the often lethal mixture of "exotic" animals and humans: he's spent the last several years interviewing people around the country who choose to own these animals, and unfortunately, Terry Thompson, the fellow who recently sent his wild animal collection to their deaths in Ohio, is not unique.

Laufer raises some interesting points we hadn't thought of, like these: many owners convince themselves that they have a special relationship with their wild animals because they've raised them from babies, and that these bonded "pets" would never turn on them or anyone else when they reach adulthood. There's also another psychological component: "controlling an animal that arouses fear in other people can be appealing." Remember those "lion tamers" at the circus? Apparently, both controlling a powerful wild animal and watching that animal be controlled gives humans an ego boost. (Not so Parental Unit, whose parents took her to the circus that came to town when she was about seven or eight...they didn't stay long because young Parental Unit burst into tears at the sight of lions, tigers and elephants being threatened with a smacking whip.)

What we particularly love about this piece is both the opening and the ending: Laufer initially asks us to imagine both the panic and terror felt by the animals "as they were chased and then killed by police", and the "heartbreak of the police officers who were obliged to destroy the rambling menagerie." He then closes with the admonition that "It's past time to regulate the wild beasts: us."

Photo courtesy of AP Wire Services

Meanwhile back in Ohio, the Columbus Dispatch reported today that a committee comprised of government and animal interest groups had reached a consensus (although they had not officially voted), to "ban new private ownership of big cats, bears, wolves, primates and venomous snakes." People who currently own these animals would be allowed to keep them. We think this is a step in the right direction-what about you? We write about this issue not because Bocci's Beefs intends to focus on wild animal regulation, but we think that it at least tangentially affects everyone who cares about animals, whether domesticated companion animals or wild, and well, this tragedy happened practically in our own back yard!


On a lighter note...don't forget that you have until 6:00pm EST to enter our FURminator, FURDRY wearable towel giveaway...and we'll announce the lucky winner tonight! Check it out here: www.boccibeefs.com/2011/10/new-furminator-towel-review-and.html

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Dogs In Your Purse And "Exotic" Animals...As Pets?

An excellent article by Jon Bastian, published just a few days ago on Cesar Millan's web site, caught our attention for its thoughtful and well-reasoned statement about the trend of small dogs treated by some celebrities as "accessories", and the ramifications of that trend. According to this piece, it was nearly eight years ago that Paris Hilton was first spotted in her television show with her Chihuahua Tinkerbell, tucked under her arm or peeking from her designer handbag. Other celebrities followed suit, and soon toy breeds were in demand by everyone who wanted to look and act like a celebrity.

Many toy breeds were then over bred to meet that excessive demand, and soon there was an over abundance of ill-behaved and un-socialized tiny dogs, many of whom ended up in shelters. According to this article, a study conducted recently in the United Kingdom found that "the number of toy dogs abandoned by their owners has increased by forty-four percent." Cesar's solution is to let these tiny breeds be dogs just like any other size canine: "Do you think a dog is happy being carried around like a purse all day? The answer is 'No'. Dogs need to get around on their own four legs. They need to walk-it's in their genes..."

Hang with us, we're not done yet! I've bet most of you have heard by now of the outlandish events that happened here in Ohio just two days ago regarding the keeping of, and then the freeing of, and then the killing of over 50 "exotic" (we prefer to call them "wild") animals. Here's the short version of this story: a convicted felon and animal abuser is legally keeping approximately 56 wild animals-like lions and tigers and bears and such-on his property in cages for years. On Tuesday evening, he decided to open all of the cages so the animals could run free and went inside his home and killed himself. Subsequently, 49 of those animals were killed by the local sheriff's department to prevent, well, panic, and possibly human and domestic animal deaths. Read one of the many articles on this horrific event in the Columbus Dispatch here: www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2011/10/20/tragedy-waiting-to-happen.html.


Now what do these seemingly unrelated topics have in common? We think it's this: Many humans insist on treating all other animals, whether long domesticated or wild, as accessories or babies or anything but the species that they are-they simply don't respect the animal as a separate species with its own needs. Apparently 21 states (but not Ohio) ban the importation and ownership of wild animals like this guy in Ohio had, and for good reason: unless you're a legitimate breeder working with zoos to preserve a particular species, wild animals should not be kept as pets-that's contrary to their nature, dangerous to everyone involved and disrespectful to the animal and his needs. As Bastion said in his article about "Hollywood Handbag Hounds",  "...remember to let a dog be a dog and to protect by respect."

We'd love to hear what you think!

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Rufus The Cat Has Neighbors In A Spat

We thought we'd share this story that was in our local paper last week because we couldn't get it out of our minds. Aptly titled "Neighbors in Cat Spat", it details the plight of Rufus, a six year old Siamese cat, who's under attack from neighbors for doing what comes naturally...killing the occasional bird, chipmunk and even a bunny. It seems that his owners, the Miller family, allow Rufus to be both an indoor and outdoor cat, as many cat owners do. And Rufus is quite friendly with humans-purring non-stop and following his family on their nightly walks with their dog.

Photo courtesy of the Columbus Dispatch

But when Rufus recently attacked a bird, he received threats from an anonymous neighbor "to take matters into their own hands", and shortly thereafter Rufus fell ill, and is slowly recovering from a $3000 abdominal surgery.

The family is now engaged in an all out war of words with their neighbors that includes laminated essays, yard signs and a Facebook page, all pleading for folks to let Rufus be, well...a cat. But what we really love is the Miller family's proposed solution-buying squirt guns for the neighbors to shoo Rufus out of their yards...rather than, say, using poison.

What do you think? Should Rufus be allowed outdoors to pursue his natural instincts if his owners so choose, or in deference to the neighborhood wildlife, should Rufus become an indoor-only cat-or perhaps something in between? We'd love to hear your thoughts on this feud.

 And don't forget to check in tomorrow for my Monday Musings-we need your help again!

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