Ever since I was little my favorite animal was a cat, but when I got into middle school it changed to a tiger. For my future, I plan on getting a house in the middle of nowhere and having a pet tiger. But Should people be allowed to play zoo in their house? Having exotic animals as pets can be dangerous to both the owner and the animal. “The term exotic pet has no firm definition; it can refer to any wildlife kept in human households—or simply to a pet that’s more unusual than the standard dog or cat”(Slater.) Exotic animals are very different because they are used to different environments and most exotic animals could be considered much more dangerous than a cat or dog. They tend to be more dangerous because of their lack of human interaction. I think people should be allowed to keep exotic animals as pets but only under certain circumstances.

I believe the care of the animal is the most important. These animals should be given the correct food and should be cared for in a proper environment. That’s why I think people should have to take a small course on the animal before taking ownership and some states such as Arizona, Texas, Indiana, and Missouri, which require a license or permit to own these animals. The problem with that is that all the person has to do is just fill out paperwork and they could have no knowledge of the animal. The exotic pet will live longer and be healthier if someone takes good care of it. Depending on if the animal is dangerous and the care is poor it could result in an attack on the owner.

Owning an exotic animal would be a fantastic learning experience for the owner, as they would need to be well versed in caring for their particular animal. As the owner of the animal it will be good learning experience since It will be a unique lifestyle. Not many people can say they care for a Tiger. Exotic animals would be good pets for people that have allergies. “Although many people would love to have a pet dog or cat, they often cannot, because they or their family members have allergies to the dander that furry pets carry on their coats.  All is not lost for these people, however; they can still have a loving pet if they choose a reptile (such as a lizard, turtle, tortoise, or snake) that has neither hair nor dander on its skin.  They might even be able to have a hairless rat or guinea pig if they are not severely allergic, and if they are not allergic to feathers, they might also be able to own a bird. So don’t despair if you’re allergic to hair!”(Dr Laurie Hess.)

Depending on the animal, a friendly bond may be able to form between man and beast. Some animals, though they appear to be harmless, have a dangerous side and a record of turning on their owners. However, this is all dependent on the attitude of the owner. If the owner is constantly spewing anger it is likely the animal will take it personal and therefore be on defense all the time, never really feeling safe. Other situations call less leniency, like if someone were to own a tiger or lion. The owner must establish their own dominance over the animal in order to keep it tame. I think exotic pets are very interesting and I think that people should be allowed to have any animal they’d like but only if they have done their research and can provide the proper environment for the animal to grow as if it were in its natural habitat.