The Prince George Humane Society is warning residents of the risks of giving exotic animals such as lizards, turtles and birds as gifts this holiday season.
The advisory comes as purchasing these animals often comes with safety hazards for both the animal and owner.
“Particularly when it comes to exotic animals, people seem to think that they’re really easy and cheap pets for their kids and they’re easy to take care of but that’s actually far from the truth,” said Angela McLaren, Executive Director.
McLaren also explained that exotic animals tend to be sensitive beings that require specialized care, however, they are often purchased as an impulse buy.
“Christmas time is one of those times where there are impulse buys and the people that are buying them often have little to no understanding of the proper care these animals require,” she added.
Additionally, there is moral controversy in supporting the exotic pet trade, a study from The Journal of Applied Animal Welfare Science suggests that 81% of reptiles die in the trade annually.
“In the exotic pet trade, a lot of these animals are actually acquired illegally,” McLaren added, “very often people are buying them from places that are breeding them at large masses that aren’t making sure that they’re getting properly cared for.”
It’s not just the gifting of exotic animals that the PG Humane Society is warning residents about, their advisory can also be applied to commonly domesticated animals such as cats and dogs.
“When you’re deciding to buy a cat or dog or puppy for someone that isn’t coming in to pick that animal themselves, they’re not actually in that position to make that decision so a lot of the times these animals end up getting returned,” Mclaren said.
She explained that gifting an animal is only appropriate if it is a well-thought-out decision made after consulting with the owner and getting their approval.
After receiving increasing amounts of abandoned exotic pets over the years, the PG Humane Society created an exotic pet division.
“We have a vet that helps us with those animals and specialized fosters that adopt those animals that are screened prior to the adoption process,” she added.
For more information on how to support the Humane Society, click here.
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