REXANO Editorial By Zuzana Kukol , www.REXANO.org
Las Vegas, NV, September 21, 2007–In the last few years, private owners of wild and exotic animals have been under attack from extreme animal rights movement and naïve legislators. Slogans like ‘wild animals belong in the wild’ and ’It is not natural for them to be in captivity’ are common place. Never mind that wild habitat as we know is disappearing due to human population boom, and the only way to escape extinction is to save many species in captivity, with private owners having the majority of available habitat for these magnificent animals.
But lets’ look at how ‘natural’ is the life of our best friends, the dogs.
Just browse thru any animal catalog to see what is available for the dogs: college team bandanna collar, cartoon character pet sweaters, college team pet sweaters, sweet dreams pajamas, outlaw cowboy hat and Doggles eyewear….
Many people who are against exotic pets because they don’t see it as natural to have ’wild’ animals in captivity (never mind all animals used to be wild) find it perfectly OK and extremely cute to dress their dogs in pajamas and cowboy hats; but try to dress the chimpanzee in the same cute clothing and the same people scream ‘animal abuse’.
Just how natural is it for a dog to sleep in pajamas or wear a cowboy hat or pink biker caps? I think it is funny, cute and I don’t think it is abusive for any animal, but it sure is not natural for any animal to wear clothes, regardless of domestication. Then there is a ‘Doggie Jogger’ with ‘stylish spooked wheels for a smooth ride’ so the small pets can ’jog’ with their owners.
Here comes the smell. The pet stores are full of doggy odor killers, waste terminators and burned grass savers. We give them pills to stop the doggy breath, shampoo baths to stop them from smelling like dogs, more pills to make their poop taste bad to avoid late night ‘snacking’.
We put collars and leashes on them to make them go where we humans want them to go, we potty train them to be like us, be civilized and have a bathroom. We make them eat brown pellets from a dish.
The worst part is many of the people who scream that captivity is unnatural for exotic animals and want to ban private possession of them are the very same people who push for MANDATORY and harmful EARLY AGE spay and neuter laws.
Think about it, neuter is just a nice word for castration, how natural is that guys? And spaying is just a nice word for hysterectomy, a rather invasive potentially dangerous procedure resulting in a big belly scar.
If dogs were to have a ‘natural’ existence, most of the products and activities above wouldn’t exist in their lives.
The world according to dogs would be:
- no doggy breath pills and shampoos, dogs are supposed to smell like dogs
- no odor killers, house with dogs is supposed to smell like a dog even if used as a bathroom, with hair all over sofas
- no ‘poop smell bad’ pills, dogs deserve to have a late night snack too
- clothes wouldn’t be for wearing, they would be for shredding and playing with
- there would be no collars and leashes, dogs would have free access to the yard 24/7; eating plants, digging holes and spraying grass would be encouraged as one of the best enrichment
- fridge would have a special doggy door
- leg humping and chasing cats or unruly kids would be a rewarded behavior
- absolutely no training, dogs can poop, run, eat, shred, and misbehave any time they want to with zero interference from humans
- and most of all, no fences and absolutely no castration surgery; male dogs should have a free access to female dogs at all times
Now, would I really want a world according to dogs? Of course not. But if we accept all of these unnatural procedures and products to be used on our dogs, why is it not OK to keep wild and exotic animals in captivity, many of whom lead a much more natural life even in captivity than their domesticated cousins.
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21 users commented in " If it is not OK to have a Tiger in my Bed, then why is it OK to cut my Dog’s Testicles? "
Follow-up comment rss or Leave a TrackbackCrazy??? How could anyone make a comparison between a dog and a Tiger? The Tiger is the same type of wild animal as say, the Bear. Most dogs cannot eat you. The Federal Big Cat Act, was written because of people like you. Feed this Tiger by hand do ya? Well you have good company to thank for the passage of the Federal Big Cat Act and they also live in Las Vegas. Remember the Vegas Act of two guys that loved their cats? Do you remember how they loved their kitties and hand fed them on stage? Do you know that any large cat, bear, ect., will one day, bite you when you least expect it? Sleep with the Tiger, hand feed it, and one day you will be just like the farmer in Georgia and the two Vages Stars and their Kitties. Hand raise a wild Deer and one day it grew up and decided to play with the farmer like he would another deer. The farmer was killed by the Deer’s rack. Nuts come in all sizes. Continue to drink that Tiger Koolaid and one day the news will be about you, instead of Ziegfield and Roy. Why would you place information on the internet that you are breaking the Federal Laws concerning the ownership of your Big Cats, if you say you want to save the Cats and keep them safe? Telling people, as you have, that you conduct your activities in violation of the laws of common sense and the laws of the United States Dept. of Agriculture APHIS division, does not show you care for your animals. It shows that the problems of Private Ownership, is the same all animals have, PEOPLE. You are a falable person, with an ego that all people possess. Your Tiger cannot be jealous, greedy, or prideful. Your Tiger is only driven by the basic instincts of eating, thirst, and the occasional pang to breed. These basic instincts can be seen in the jungle, where these animals belong. When these animals are subjected to people, they are, as you said, clothed and pampered. Just because you gave up your bed to the Tiger will not stop the Tiger from treating you like another Tiger and ripping out your throat. Remember how your Tigers play? The Tigers do not understand that your skin or throat is softer than theirs.
Your article defending an undefendable position shows the ego necessary for a person to want to obtain a wild animal that should be in the wild. Be aware that the road to Hell was and still is paved with good intentions. If you truely love your animals you will treat them with respect and treat them as animals and not play toys for boasting. Spaying and neutering dogs and cats in an over populated country makes common sense. I guess we could always let nature handle the overpopulation and allow domesticated animals to starve, but then people like you could point out that dogs and cats make good food for Tigers.
Sincerely,
You completely missed the entire point of what she was saying, and obviously have no idea the statistical risk involved. You drive a car don’t you? Do you? If you do you should fear that thing more more than a captive big cat that is being responsibly cared for by one of your local neighbors.
And no the “well there are more drivers than big cat owners” argument will not work here because even then, driving is still statistically more dangerous.
http://www.felineconservation.org/legal/pubsafety.asp?key=60
Trust me “Carol A Corbitt”, You will win the lottery, get hit by lightening, or get killed by a passing driver far, far, far, before you even know a person, who knew a person, who was killed by a captive big cat.
http://www.cdc.gov/ncipc/duip/biteprevention.htm
But if you disagree with me thats perfectly fine, just make sure to back it up with actual cited facts to justify your argument.
Trust me, when I tell you the odds of being killed by a Lion or Tiger are greater where I live than if I lived in a jungle. I live right next to a “Private Owner”, of both a Lion and a Tiger. She also has an assortment of Exotic animals that total over 45, according to the last USDA AHPIS, license application. Fights in the middle of our rural street have occurred due to this woman’s ideas that she can place these four hundred pound “Kitties” on a lease and take them for walks! The USDA APHIS inspectors check on these animals ONLY once every three years. She is a licensed “Class C Exhibitor”, that does not exhibit. Georgia law does not allow ownership of exotic or wild life, but the loophole is an internet license to exhibit and the USDA does not outline a requirement to actually be open to the public. The State has inspected once every three years as well, and found 70% decomposing bodies, open pits of dead assorted animals, unlicensed Federally protected raptures in cages, animals coming and going off the property, nonexistent fences and damaged outdoor LION and TIGER cages. Compliance dates are set, but since they only show up ONCE every three years, they just set new dates. Meanwhile, my daughter is nearly killed in her car by 15 to 20 deer with orange and silver collars and the local police direct traffic while this “Private Owner”, gathers up her deer. Ever wonder how fast an EMU runs? I know, 40 miles per hour before it hops another neighbors four foot fence. Every had an Emu chase you to your car? I have, and so have my neighbors. The inspectors don’t care about the fact that the records show a reduction in one year of over 30 animals with unexplained deaths. The Lemur is hanging out in the trees, and the wallaby ran away to the swamp. I do not live in the country, we are only 1/2 mile from the City limits!
CDC? Ever heard of chronic wasting disease? The DNR sites in the inspections that this exhibitor is housing exotic deer with native deer and explains that is not allowed by Federal or State Standards. The fecees of the different species creates the perfect breeding ground for the chronic wasting to be tranferred to the native deer. With no fencing, this means the deer hunters in Georgia are at risk just like the hunters in Colorado. But Georgia has no recorded cases of people being killed yet. Trust me, I could be eaten tomorrow, or better yet, my horses, dogs, or children. Private Owners do not have the proper supervision from the State of Federal Government to make sure the Public at Large are safe from illresponsible people.
Carol A. Corbitt
What laws is Carol A talking about “Federal Big Cat Act”? “that you conduct your activities in violation of the laws the laws of the United States Dept. of Agriculture APHIS division”?
If I’m violating USDA rules? What rule/regulation is it? REXANO has never advocated violating the laws of the land, quite the contrary, REXANO advises that everyone read and know the applicable laws concerning exotics.
“Why would you place information on the internet that you are breaking the Federal Laws concerning the ownership of your Big Cats,……”
Your ignorance is showing Ms Corbitt. It is not ‘breaking federal laws’ for properly trained and permitted people to responsibly own the animal of their choice….nor should it be. This is America, land of the free, and we have the right to own property and the liberty to the pursuit of happiness that some states unfortunately have failed to recognize. That doesn’t make it illegal everywhere.
If an owner is bitten by an animal they’ve raised that is an occupational hazzard…no different than skydiving or driving a racecar. It is no more of a risk than cops and firemen face every day, and one gladly taken for the rewards of living with and caring for these magnificent animals.
These animals pose no threat to the public so long as the public stays away from them. Lighten up. Live and let live. Punish people who mistreat animals and let those who give their lives to them…be it a tiger or a dog…pursue their dreams. It is no more ‘wrong’ or ‘unatural’ than you sharing your home with the family mutt.
P.S. I will be happy to email the State DNR File and the USDA APHIS file to anyone concerning this “Private Owner”. The information is Public Record and obtained through the Open Records act. And, YES, I am in contact with my Public elected Officials to change the loopholes concerning exotics. You would too if you had these animals coming to your home. By the way, the USDA APHIS and State DNR does not REQUIRE any of this ladies animals to be VACCINATED. Even the Fox, her Raccoon, her Coati Mundi, her Capi Bara (largest rat in the world) and of course her Lion and Tiger.
Carol A. Corbitt
Sounds like Carol A has valid point, an irresponsible exotic owner is bad for everyone, and the ones that suffer worst are the responsible ones.
If the animals are running at large, where is the local animal control? Taking them for a walk on a leash off the property? Have you taken any pictures and forewarded them to the local law enforcement? How about forwarding them to contact@rexano.org?
I find it really hard to believe that this owner actually does what Carole said and walks them down her street on a leash. But lets wait and see.
If these are baby cubs though, less than 16 weeks old, your wasting your time arguing.
Sounds to me like you are taking your frustrations out on all private owners due to the failings of one to keep her animals responsibly.
There are laws on the books in every state against animal neglect and these should be enforced. But because this owner is irresponsible, should no one be permitted to own a deer or a lemur? This is like saying no one should be permitted to have children because Susan Smith drowned hers.
The Big Cat Act was passed after the acident on stage during the Vegas act of Ziegfield and Roy. Anyone remember the terrible and nearly fatal attack? It basically outlines the procedures for feeding large cats. Most large animals like bears, large cats, alligators, will associate people with food if they are constantly hand fed. This is why most States must pass dummy laws, like don’t feed the alligators and expect not to loose your hand.
Funny how Carol says we need to respect tigers but then says they are nothing but mindless eating and humping instinct driven things.
Even if her neighbor actually exists they aren’t truly a private owner anyway since they are federally licensed, by the way people normally use private owner to mean. As in pet owner used for nothing but companionship. If they have an exhibitors license they don’t truly count. And they have to be doing something with them to bring money in to have that many of them.
Im beginning to think this “issue” from Carole is being massively overhyped by her. She still has not responded to what I said earlier about driving fatalities and weather or not this owner is indeed, doing *exactly* what she previously said she was doing (walking 400lb big cats down her street on a leash).
Please, give us some proof Carole.
Carole, why don’t you find yourself another hobby?
Siegfried & Roy, the Vegas act is not a very good example even statistically. How many shows were given over the years? How many possibilities were there? And how many incidences?? Animal behaviorists (not of ar persuasion) may even tell something of the actions of the tiger that do not include ramampant uncontrolled killing machine.Drama sells but it doesn’t mean we have to buy.
If you truly have a neighbor infringing on your rights of safety, has animals running loose (at large) that can cause physical harm or even death to you or yours, there are avenues already in place to take to protect you and yours. Give us the specific area and we can even help you through the process- rather than have you condemn all private owners, the lives of animals in captivity that are kept publicly safe and humanely- humanely not as in animal rights terms which does not include keeping of any animal. But I surely hope they also don’t have teen drivers, a ‘domestic’ dog or any hobbies or friends remotely capable of anything less than a fairy tale existence.
I don’t find much on your posts to go on realistically and factually but if you do in fact have the issue you claim, please email me @ haleynjosh@yahoo.com and I sincerely will do what I can to help you resolve your issues.
Amy
Dear Walter and Mary,
I sent the inspection reports and inventories to Amy and Shoemaker. I can email them to you as well. Send me your email.
Carol
Sorry, maybe I need to send mine. GAEESP5@aol.com
Carol, it seems highly unlikely that what you say is true. Any reasonable law enforcement unit would have shut down an operation like that years ago.
APHIS does inspections at least once a year. I find it hard to believe they would inspect that infrequently. But, they have said that if a facility is consistently in compliance, they are inspected less. Almost everything you name in your original post would be considered ‘noncompliance’.
The annual odds of a big cat owner/handler being killed by a big cat is approximately the same as that of being killed in a fatal car wreck. This includes all classes of owners, including professional trainers. The so-called ‘pet owners’ actually have the best safety record. Neighbors of big cat owners have little to fear. The chances of being killed by your neighbor’s house exploding from a gas leak are significantly higher than you being killed by your neighbor’s tiger. (0 people killed by escaped big cats off their property in 17 years.) There is at minimum 1,100 times higher chance you will kill your own child in child abuse than that the neighbor’s tiger will kill them (0 children killed by escaped big cats in 17 years. Exploding houses kill 1-2 people outside the house each year.)
The law you are referring to, which was ramrodded through Congress in 2003, does not ban anyone from having a big cat. It now makes it illegal to take your cat to a specialty vet in another state when is sick, thus promoting animal cruelty, or forcing you to destroy an otherwise treatable sick cat.
It would be ridiculous to say that the average person could properly care for a big cat. But with proper training (which is now readily available) and facilities, it is the most rewarding thing you can ever do. There is no reason whatsoever that we should be taking away the right of resposible people to own and propagate these magnificent and endangered animals because of a few yahoos who don’t use common sense. That is like fixing a leaking faucet by burning the house down. Remember this next time someone wants to ban something you enjoy doing, and is a big part of my life.
Discovering the joys of working with big cats was quite likely the biggest life-changing experience I have ever had. And I want future generations to enjoy it, too if they are willing to do it right.
Carol- Just now getting the info printed out that you sent. If there are honest safety issues almost any owner I know would try to help remedy the situation. If this is merely a disgruntled neighbor or animal rights activity in disguise, it won’t be taken nicely. The mistrust (just so you understand sould your complaints be legitimiate)comes from the many attempts by some to harm responsible owners just to further the animal rights agenda or agenda of those thinking they are the only ones capable of maintaining exotic animals while they receive donations to keep their privately owned stock- actually making their living at it. It’s hard to discern who is telling the truth and who is ‘playing games’ until everything is taken into consideration.
The reports speak for themselves. Exhibitors that don’t exhibit do not need an exhibitors licesnce. I am not with any group but do have neighbors that are just as concerned for the Public safety as well as the health of our own animals. Many large animal vets here refuse to go to this address. The vets have given my neighbors as well as myself, the numbers to the USDA vet services after instances that occurred in the neighborhood with horses. The USDA vert services rudely hung up. Anyone who reviews these files will have just as many questions concerning the safety and welfare of the animals as well as the safety of anyone living near this home. With luck, myself and the neighbors can make the changes in the Exhibitor laws at the State, Federal and Local levels, that are needed to protect both the native Georgia wildlife, our own animals and the Public at Large.
Carol
If that person had all those infractions & was acting that irresponsibly I would the 1st to report them, & I am a private exotic pet owner. I believe that we should be able to own the animal we wish so long as they are captive bread & those caring for them are educated in their care and provide safe enclosures. Which is standard for responsible owners.
If you really have reported this person how are they still around? Either your local law enforcemnet is not doing their job or it is a made up story. If my neighbor had his dangerous animals running at large I would ask him to correct his irresponsible behavior or contact local animal control. I guarantee the person would never own another animal.
When will people begin to see the big picture. That there ARE very good owners of ALL species, and very bad owners of ALL species not just exotics. I am not pushing to ban dogs because of the few whose abuse mistreat them. I fight to have THOSE abusive individuals animals removed, & applaud good owners on their care. Many times it is law enforcement that does not do their job, & so abusers are not reported. Also the media likes stories that are drama. There is no drama in a monkey that behaves and loves its owner. There is drama in a monkey that bites someone, so only those negative stories get published. I have tried to get local papers to run stories on responsible ownership, and my experience yet it never makes it to print. However a monkey escapes from its cage and it is front page news! Mind you dogs & cats roam the streets all the time, & bite people in the hundreds of thousands per year. Not even a chimpanzee has killed someone in over 20 years in the US. Each year at least a handful of people die from dog attacks. Should dogs be banned? Absolutely not. Should irresponsible owners be punished? Absolutely.
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