How does owning/trading exotic pets create negative disturbances in our environment, and how should Wisconsin deal with this problem?
Background and History of Controversy
Owning and trading exotic pets first started being during the 20th century and the popularity began in the early 1940s with the main species being tropical fish. Eventually, as time progressed, millions of exotic animals in all kinds of species were sold and captured from around the world turning the exotic pet trade industry into a multi-billion dollar black market. The dealers and breeders of exotic animals will argue that for most animals, living in captivity will allow for them to live longer than if they were in their natural habitat. Whilst there was an effort in the 2013-14 session to ban “the possession, propagation and sale of dangerous exotic animals” in Wisconsin failed to advance in the Legislature. It’s even been said by captive wildlife protectors around the U.S that it can be easier to own a tiger than a dog in certain states because they’ll require a vaccination and registration for the dog and none of these requirements for a tiger. There will be a similar bill being pushed again this year so the issue still remains an important problem that people see as needing to be fixed. There are some federal laws governing the sale, breeding, transportation and exhibition of exotic animals however, critics say there are not enough inspectors to police the wild animal trade.
Controversy
Along with ethical issues there are also current controversies involving the transportation of exotic pets. Back in 1995, a wildlife inspector at New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport was called to check a shipment of animals that had just arrived. When he opened one of the wooden boxes, the first thing he saw was skinks. The lizards looked healthy enough, but in another compartment, he found several dozen dead and dying frogs crushed together.
Key Players List
There has been many conflicts between certain groups who believe exotic animals survive best with care and another group believing exotic animals deserve to be in the wild. Bill Zelenski owner of Wild Bill’s Exotics explains lawmakers don't have the same knowledge of animals as he does. He has argued that his captive exotic animals have lived longer than they would have in the wild. If the ban was put in place now, many animals would suffer because they trust their owners to keep them healthy. “Animal lovers” believe they should keep their animals because otherwise, many families will have to be forced to kill their animals to comply with the law.
The other group usually involves police officers, and humane officers. They are both usually against it. Weitz, a humane investigator who gets calls everyday of animals being abused says it’s not fair for them to get calls and possibly risk their own lives for others who decided to keep a dangerous exotic animal as a pet. Anyone could call the cops for help, and in a situation like this, an officer has to go against an exotic animal and possibly get injured or killed.
Keeping an exotic animals as pets can become invasive and cause harm to the environment. If these animals are released into our environment then they can harm to other animals for food and habitat. They can also even harm us, as most of these exotic animals being kept as pets are large, venomous, and dangerous.
Power-Dynamic Analysis
The government has more power in this situation. The government seems to be on the side of creating new laws and enforcing laws already in the books to prevent anyone from owning exotic animals. Laws have been proposed against the exotic pet trade and if it’s rejected there are stricter rules being enforced. It is a difficult conflict between both groups because they both have their reasons why. The exotic pet owners think they have more knowledge than lawmakers, and lawmakers think having these animals released will fix all problems. They’re managing this power by creating laws against keeping exotic animals and making sure there are no exotic animals in anyone’s home. The only problem with that is that many animals will die. Exotic pet owners are seen to be animal abusers by making them reproduce for profit, or zoo owners using animals as a way to get money, they’re seen as the people destroying our environment, economy, and human health.
Ethical Issues
There are many ethical issues in this trade some of which include harming or even killing the animal. Some examples of this are in a Thai wildlife temple authorities raided the temple on Monday and by Wednesday evening had removed 64 more tigers. Authorities hope to remove an additional 70 tigers by Saturday. The temple, which houses more than 130 tigers, has faced critical suspicion over claims that the animals are kept under the influence of sedative drugs.In a gruesome twist, 40 tiger cubs were found dead in a temple freezer the next day.
Solutions
Although there are some federal laws against exotic pets however, in Wisconsin there are very few to no laws against it. People in Wisconsin can own a tiger without a permit. There needs to be more restrictions and laws instituted by the Wisconsin government so that way people can face repercussions for damaging these animals' lives and the local ecosystems. An important reason that there needs to be laws against exotic pet trade and ownership is that it’s dangerous for owners to have exotic animals as pets. When they’re in private hands there have been multiple incidents reported where they’ve gotten loose or out and done severe damage to children and adults.
Solutions
Although there are some federal laws against exotic pets, in Wisconsin there are very few to no laws against it to the point where people can own a tiger without a permit. There needs to be more restrictions and laws instituted by the Wisconsin government so that way people can face repercussions for damaging these animals' lives and ecosystems. An important reason that there needs to be laws against exotic pet trade and ownership is that it’s dangerous for owners to have exotic animals as pets because when they’re in private hands there have been multiple incidents reported where they’ve gotten loose or out and done severe damage to children and adults.
Sources List
https://madison.com/ct/news/local/science/wisconsin-one-of-five-states-where-dangerous-exotic-animals-can-be-pets/article_208f3ccc-40fc-11e5-841f-0b1c1f8b473a.html
https://www.animallaw.info/article/detailed-discussion-exotic-pet-laws
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/exotic-pet-trade
https://wisconsinwatch.org/2015/08/exotic-and-exploited-lions-and-tigers-and-wisconsins-lax-wild-animal-laws/
Owning and trading exotic pets first started being during the 20th century and the popularity began in the early 1940s with the main species being tropical fish. Eventually, as time progressed, millions of exotic animals in all kinds of species were sold and captured from around the world turning the exotic pet trade industry into a multi-billion dollar black market. The dealers and breeders of exotic animals will argue that for most animals, living in captivity will allow for them to live longer than if they were in their natural habitat. Whilst there was an effort in the 2013-14 session to ban “the possession, propagation and sale of dangerous exotic animals” in Wisconsin failed to advance in the Legislature. It’s even been said by captive wildlife protectors around the U.S that it can be easier to own a tiger than a dog in certain states because they’ll require a vaccination and registration for the dog and none of these requirements for a tiger. There will be a similar bill being pushed again this year so the issue still remains an important problem that people see as needing to be fixed. There are some federal laws governing the sale, breeding, transportation and exhibition of exotic animals however, critics say there are not enough inspectors to police the wild animal trade.
Controversy
Along with ethical issues there are also current controversies involving the transportation of exotic pets. Back in 1995, a wildlife inspector at New York City’s John F. Kennedy International Airport was called to check a shipment of animals that had just arrived. When he opened one of the wooden boxes, the first thing he saw was skinks. The lizards looked healthy enough, but in another compartment, he found several dozen dead and dying frogs crushed together.
Key Players List
There has been many conflicts between certain groups who believe exotic animals survive best with care and another group believing exotic animals deserve to be in the wild. Bill Zelenski owner of Wild Bill’s Exotics explains lawmakers don't have the same knowledge of animals as he does. He has argued that his captive exotic animals have lived longer than they would have in the wild. If the ban was put in place now, many animals would suffer because they trust their owners to keep them healthy. “Animal lovers” believe they should keep their animals because otherwise, many families will have to be forced to kill their animals to comply with the law.
The other group usually involves police officers, and humane officers. They are both usually against it. Weitz, a humane investigator who gets calls everyday of animals being abused says it’s not fair for them to get calls and possibly risk their own lives for others who decided to keep a dangerous exotic animal as a pet. Anyone could call the cops for help, and in a situation like this, an officer has to go against an exotic animal and possibly get injured or killed.
Keeping an exotic animals as pets can become invasive and cause harm to the environment. If these animals are released into our environment then they can harm to other animals for food and habitat. They can also even harm us, as most of these exotic animals being kept as pets are large, venomous, and dangerous.
Power-Dynamic Analysis
The government has more power in this situation. The government seems to be on the side of creating new laws and enforcing laws already in the books to prevent anyone from owning exotic animals. Laws have been proposed against the exotic pet trade and if it’s rejected there are stricter rules being enforced. It is a difficult conflict between both groups because they both have their reasons why. The exotic pet owners think they have more knowledge than lawmakers, and lawmakers think having these animals released will fix all problems. They’re managing this power by creating laws against keeping exotic animals and making sure there are no exotic animals in anyone’s home. The only problem with that is that many animals will die. Exotic pet owners are seen to be animal abusers by making them reproduce for profit, or zoo owners using animals as a way to get money, they’re seen as the people destroying our environment, economy, and human health.
Ethical Issues
There are many ethical issues in this trade some of which include harming or even killing the animal. Some examples of this are in a Thai wildlife temple authorities raided the temple on Monday and by Wednesday evening had removed 64 more tigers. Authorities hope to remove an additional 70 tigers by Saturday. The temple, which houses more than 130 tigers, has faced critical suspicion over claims that the animals are kept under the influence of sedative drugs.In a gruesome twist, 40 tiger cubs were found dead in a temple freezer the next day.
Solutions
Although there are some federal laws against exotic pets however, in Wisconsin there are very few to no laws against it. People in Wisconsin can own a tiger without a permit. There needs to be more restrictions and laws instituted by the Wisconsin government so that way people can face repercussions for damaging these animals' lives and the local ecosystems. An important reason that there needs to be laws against exotic pet trade and ownership is that it’s dangerous for owners to have exotic animals as pets. When they’re in private hands there have been multiple incidents reported where they’ve gotten loose or out and done severe damage to children and adults.
Solutions
Although there are some federal laws against exotic pets, in Wisconsin there are very few to no laws against it to the point where people can own a tiger without a permit. There needs to be more restrictions and laws instituted by the Wisconsin government so that way people can face repercussions for damaging these animals' lives and ecosystems. An important reason that there needs to be laws against exotic pet trade and ownership is that it’s dangerous for owners to have exotic animals as pets because when they’re in private hands there have been multiple incidents reported where they’ve gotten loose or out and done severe damage to children and adults.
Sources List
https://madison.com/ct/news/local/science/wisconsin-one-of-five-states-where-dangerous-exotic-animals-can-be-pets/article_208f3ccc-40fc-11e5-841f-0b1c1f8b473a.html
https://www.animallaw.info/article/detailed-discussion-exotic-pet-laws
https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/article/exotic-pet-trade
https://wisconsinwatch.org/2015/08/exotic-and-exploited-lions-and-tigers-and-wisconsins-lax-wild-animal-laws/