Question for all the "exotic" keepers on here....

[wolfy-hound]

Without reading the whole thread because frankly, I'm really not in the mood...

My $0.02 about "protecting" people from owning dangerous animals that could kill them, i.e. hots or giant constrictors, big cats, bears, whatever...

Are you also going to say that people can no longer enjoy dirt biking? Horseback riding? Car racing? Bicycling? Hang-gliding or sky-diving or flying a small plane... drinking? Smoking? Eating anything but human kibble specially formulated so you don't get overweight? Owning a dog? Owning large furniture that may fall on them? Ban soda machines, swing sets, skates, skateboards, surfing, heck- swimming at ALL, and so on and so forth?

You can NOT make the world a perfectly safe place and just because to ME, racing a dirt bike along mountain trails seems like something only a suicidal crazy person would do, doesn't mean I have the right to tell you that it's no longer allowed as an activity because you could get hurt or killed and it's just too dangerous because not only you would be in danger, but bystanders or hikers who you might run over or land on when you go off a cliff.

Adults have a right to pursue happiness and if that means owning a big stupid yellow lab that might knock them down accidentally and cause brain damage... or owning a live rattlesnake... or going sky diving... that's their choice.

Plus, any owner is ALREADY legally liable for any damage or harm caused by their animals. If my cow escaped the pasture and jumps in front of a car, I'm liable for the damage to the car and injury to the driver. It's no different if my dog runs out and bites someone. It's not different if it's a ferret, a gerbil, a horse, a bull or an elephant.

As long as it's zoned for livestock, anyone can go out and buy a cow or horse. There's no permit to buy a horse. It can cause more harm to people than any constrictor snake, and by history, has killed more people in a year than all the nonvenomous reptiles have... ever.

There's usually some regulations regarding containment of certain species. Basically they boil down to "Don't let it get loose and cause havok." We don't need more regulations, and regulations that are passed will not be good for pet owners nor for the general public.