Exotic Cat Ownership Under Fire

Just three days ago about 10 miles from my home, an 11-year-old boy was paralyzed from the neck down because he was attacked by a lion AND tiger. Here in Minnesota you are allowed to have such animals. He had fourteen!!! It was his "private zoo." Well as the boy was watching the owner went to do something with the door. Suddendly both cats pushed the door open with no problem and critically injured the boy. I don't blame the animals. Just because you have wild animals locked up doesn't mean you are an animal expert. What's your thought.

I agree. Most people cannot handle the responsibility of animals like that, actually when you think about it there are so many people that can't even handle the responsibility of domesticated animals, much less "wild" animals.

100% agree... couldn't have said it better myself. Leave the wild animals to the professionals or better yet THE WILD!!

I've merged the two threads.

IMO, most people should not "own" exotic animals; however, there are a few that are responsible and the privilige should not be taken away from them. In some cases, they are actually helping to preserve the species. I do believe that regulations should be very tough and enforced.

As far as safety for children goes, regulations should cover that. After all, even some farm animals are dangerous.

I agree with this. I would like to add though....the first person that comes to mind on this topic is John with Amber & Boris. People who put their heart into caring for these animals, and I mean properly caring for them as John has, are people who would take every precaution possible to prevent their pets from endangering a childs life, or any human beings life. I know from his stories that it take ALOT of work and dedication to take care of them. I guess it kind of goes along the lines of pet lovers being good people, but even beyond that. It is when irresponsible people are keeping these animals as "pets" that trouble arises.

There are several things that make me mad about this. One is that I do belive people should be able to own exotics..but not just anyone on the street. Professional. liscensed people who have them in PROPER habitats not cages, habitats.

what really gets my goat, is this sounds like just any other guy who thought it would be nice to own these animals. the article said they were kept in his best buy auto warehouse? last time i checked..that wasnt proper habitat.

I do feel bad for the boy, but he should not have been allowed anywhere NEAR those cages. wild animals are wild animals, cages raised by people or not. they are still wild, and will still do what instinct tells them to do. Once again the animals paid the price for the stupidty of people, the animals were put down. They should have been taken to a sanctuary..better yet they shouldnt have ever been in the situation they were in.

This is not true , when done properly AND RESPONSIBLY.
Now, I have to say yes, I feel terrible for this boy, but in no way shape or form should this incident be a reason to BAN exotic animal onwership...ever!!!! Who is at fault here?? There are a few people at fault. First, if I have the facts correct, the boy was not the son of the tiger owner. So, if this was the case, why did the PARENTS of this boy allow him to be there so close to these cats, unless they just didn't know. Second, I have not seen pictures of the owners facility, but had it been done right, this incident would NEVER have happened. Just the fact that the story says the tiger owner opened the door and the cats pushed there way through it tells me a lot. First off, if done correctly, the door should open only one way and that is open inward into the enclore, NEVER outward. That way, when entering the enclosure, if the cats would push on the door as it is being opened, the door would be pushed closed. The enclosure should have whats called a double door entry and should pass what we call, "the drop dead test". This double door entry system works as follows. You open the first door and close it behind you, then you open the second door that leads into the enclosure. Should the animal get past this door, it still can not escape, because it will be locked in the double door entry area. The drop dead test is as follows. You ask yourself this question. While entering my enclosure, if I should suddenly drop dead, can my cat escape? If you answer yes, then the entry system MUST be changed. I have a double door entry system for Nakoma on his enclosure. All enclosures MUST have a perimeter fence that is a minimum of 3 feet (4 feet preferred) away from the enclosure walls and completely surround the enclosure. This will prevent any unwanted contact with the animal from people who should not be there. I have a perimeter fence that is 4 feet from Nakoma's enclosure as well. Last, but in no way the least, you should have a "lock out or lock down" section for the larger cats. This lock out or lock down is an area of the enclosure the cat can be locked in, should you need to enter the enclosure or to make repairs to the doors. Had these steps been followed, this incident would never have happened. Don't make statements that these animals should not be owned by private individuals, because that is wrong. It is the irresponsible owners that make ALL exotic animal owners look bad. The RESPONSIBLE owners, like myself, should not be made to suffer due to an irresponsible person's mistakes. If this is true, then ALL animal owners should not be allowed to own their animals, because many domestic animals suffer in the hands of irresponsible owners and MANY people are injured by domestic animals, due to the irresponsible owner. There should NEVER be bans...never. But I do believe in resonable regulations. My wife and I recently attended an exotic feline husbandry course in April to continue our education on the care of our cats. We are certified, you needed to pass the test with a score of 80% and higher. I would like to have a cougar some day, but NOT until I am 100% sure I can care for such an animal, so that all the animal's needs are met and that the safety of the public is ensured. This is how exotic animal ownership is done responsibly

I suppose that if the animals are treated decently there is no problem with it, but to me, it smacks of simply incarceration for no good reason other than to say "I have one locked up" because it is generally known that they are not "responsive pets" in the sense of your average moggy or DSH, which can give and receive affection.

Leonard

Personally, I feel like owning exotics should be left up to people who have been through some kind of educational program and who are licensed by the governemnt. I feel like there needs to be a lot of red tape to cut through to be able to own wild animals...that way, the dedicated and responsible people would go through it because it's a labor of love and the less responsible people wouldn't even bother

We just received two more big cats seized by the USDA from yet another in a long list of irresponsible owners. These two are leopards and were seized on Tuesday.