November 12, 2007

According to the Humane Society of the United States, the number of pet reptiles in the U.S. is on the rise – feeding the highly under-regulated and sometimes illegal trade.

Although reptile imports are down overall, there has been an increase in demand for exotic animals – often times, exotic can mean rare or endangered, the group says.

And not many countries regulate the methods used to acquire snakes, lizards and other reptiles - a fact the HSUS says should weigh heavily on Americans in the market for a pet.

The HSUS questions whether reptiles are fit to live as pets in the first place – since many spend their lives far from human contact, in a cage or tank – and don't provide the kind of companionship a dog or cat does.

Furthermore, risk to the caregivers themselves can be high. Snakes, for example, account for thousands of injuries each year – many of which end in death.

And considering how hard it can be to find anti-venin for poisonous exotic snakes, it may make a lot more sense to head to the local shelter and pick up a gerbil.

Do you think we should be allowed to keep exotic reptiles as pets?

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