I've recently come across a new shop with pets in Arkadia Shopping Mall and much to my surprise in addition to typical pets like rabbits and hamsters there were two small monkeys called Red-handed Tamarins (They actually have got gold/yellow paws and in Polish they're called "Tamarynki Złotorękie"). They are pretty small - the size of a big rat - and from what I've read their body size ranges from 13 to 30 cm (plus a 25 to 44 cm long tail).
So here comes my question. What do you think about keeping that kind of animal at home? I might add that just one of them costs 6500 zlotys.
I have stumbled upon a few pet shops abroad and I remember my surprise when I saw them selling cats and dogs. I've never seen pets of these kinds kept in cages in a store. So when last week I saw monkeys being sold I was astonished. There are many people all over the world that keep wild animals as pets ranging from snakes and lizard to lions, crocodiles or bears even though it's often illegal. Many of them provide a good life for their "pet" but many don't know how to care for such a demanding animal. There were also many cases of people getting seriously harmed or killed because of having a dangerous animal at home.
There are a couple of problems with keeping a wild animal at home.
- You simply can't domesticate a wild animal. Dogs and cats have been bred as pets for hundreds of years but it's not that easy with other species.
- Wild animals carry diseases.
- They don't stay little forever. Even though a small lion or a monkey are cute they will eventually grow into a huge beast that may bite, scratch, tear up the furniture or even attack its owner.
- It's illegal to keep various animals at home so it means that the animal that you buy was probably smuggled into the country in terrible conditions and many of its kin died on the way. Demand creates supply, so as long as people want to buy them many animals will have to suffer and die. The other problem with illegality is that if your pet gets sick you won't be able to go to the vet because your animal might be taken away and you could be brought to court for keeping it at home.
There are a few famous cases of people living with wild animals. Back in the late 60-ties two friends in Chelsea bought a lion cub for Harrods’ pet department (it was legal at that time) and after the pet grew too big to be kept, it was successfully returned to the wild but still remembered its owners months after. Here is a video of their reunion with the lion:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvCjyWp3rEk
I recommend you check out this article about another family living with a lion in 1971. There are some really cool photos for you to see:
http://www.earthporm.com/family-lived-real-lion-back-1971/
The man in the picture adopted a grizzly bear and raised it. He and his bear are inseparable. He saved the bear from an overpopulated wildlife park and brought it up with a lot of love and attention. The bear has its own place built for it where it can walk around freely but as you can see in the video it is sometimes let into the house.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CVMBdi4dgME
Although I showed you some happy stories about people keeping wild animals at home, we should remember that there are also a lot of people that don't know how to take care of such animals and simply mistreat them or get rid of them when they get larger. It's extremely hard to return an animal like that to its natural habitat because it doesn't know how to hunt and interact with other animals. There were also many unfortunate cases of people getting killed by their pet snake or lion.
Here is a very good video about wild animals:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItVffKEDjk4
QUESTIONS:
- What do you think about monkeys being sold in Arkadia?
- What is your opinion on keeping wild animals at home?
- Do you think it's a good idea to have a monkey at home?
- Have you ever had an unusual pet or would like to have one?
- Do you think there should be more regulations or at least some requirements that should be fulfilled before you can keep a wild animal at home?
Comments
The monkeys were sold (together) to someone but the shop is planning to get new monkeys of a different kind (kapucynki - capuchins). So you may see the new monkeys there. I have also learned that they are selling squirrels of some kind (white but not albinos and brown) which I don't think are common in pet shops.
I'm not an expert in zoology, therefore I don't know if tamarins can be kept as pets. If I wanted to buy them, I would sure make a research on that topic beforehand.
I've heard a story about a woman who had a boa in her house. She let it out of its terrarium and wander around the house. For a few days in a row the boa would lie beside her in her bed at night. When she went to the vet, she asked him about this strange behavior. The vet said that boas usually lie beside their pray if they're not sure they can devour it whole - to compare the sizes of bodies :)
From what I've read tamarins are kept as pets and can grow very attached to people but they need a lot of space - their own room where they can climb ideally. And that they can destroy an apartment if left alone (not contained in a cage or their room). Anyway I'm glad they were bought together because in the wild the live in big groups and I assume that if someone is wealthy enough to buy pets for 13 000 zlotys then they can provide a good environment for them.
I've heard the story about a woman and her boa but it still sounds unreal to me :) I think if you keep an animal like that at home, you should know more about its behavior. Anyway thank you for sharing this story and for the comment :)
Here is another shocking story about a man who found live iguanas in a dumpster of a pet shop.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q_p969U0eSA
http://www.newschannel6now.com/story/19497462/reptile-rescuer-angry-after-finding-iguana-inside-petco-dumpster
I think it’s weird that they are selling this kind of monkeys because they are a threatened spices in many countries. Do you know what kind of cat you brother bought? There are some really big kinds of cats, crosspieces with some wild cats. Even Bengal cats can grow huge. Thanks for your comment :)
Keeping wild animals at home is different than normal pets. I would not recommend doing that with animals that require a lot of activity. Usually they should be kept outside and have different sort of activities to stay healthy.
If they monkey would be kept in a healthy conditions and if the monkey would have good relations with the owners, then yes, I would accept it. Otherwise I wouldn't.
I have had normal pets - cats, dogs, birds. I don't think I'll ever have any unusual ones. Maybe, one day, if I really want to.. but not now.
I don't know what are the requirements in Poland. I think every animal should have it's own rights, just like people do. Any form of violation should be punished and people should go to jail for treating animals badly (just like other humans). This may sound weird but I would also support death sentece for killing an animal (under certain circumstances). I am very sensitive about animals ;-)
If someone has desire to have a wild animal at home let them do it. As long as those wild animals have sufficient protection from making harm to neighbours it’s ok. Your life, your risk, your problem.
If monkey has enough room to live at home it’s also ok to have one.
I’ve never had any unusual pet. Actually I don’t like animals at all. Having any kind of animal at home is disgusting to me.
No, I don’t think there should be more regulations when it comes to keeping wild animals at home.
Where’s demand there’s supply, I guess. It’s a pity that animals are often illegally brought to Europe from their natural habitat just because for instance well-off businessman/woman prefers to have an exotic accessory and another reason to show off in front of his/her colleagues. Rolex isn’t enough in these times. On the other hand, there are those who are real animal-lovers and would spend every penny to give home to a cute serval or a friendly-looking boa constrictor.
- What is your opinion on keeping wild animals at home?
As much as I’d love to have a pet-tiger I’m aware that with an animal at home come the responsibilities and self-sacrifices. But if the owner is caring, the ‘pet’ is healthy and happy where it is, I see no problem with that.
- Do you think it's a good idea to have a monkey at home?
Monkeys were always a bit strange to be. Cute, but strange. I believe I’m not just the monkey type guy.
- Have you ever had an unusual pet or would like to have one?
Apart from a rat-size cockroach residing at my grandmother’s basement I somehow failed to have other unusual pets. Just average barkers.
- Do you think there should be more regulations or at least some requirements that
should be fulfilled before you can keep a wild animal at home?
I do know whether current environmental regulations on having an unusual pet at home are strict but I would not mind if they were tighten even more. The more difficult it is for an average Kowalski to buy a polar bear, I guess, the better. It limits the potential demand for such animals and as a result limits the hunting. In my mind, we should focus upon such matters just as we should start educating people to care for the animals, no matter whether they’re an exotic or a domestic type, instead of tying them up to tries in the forests.
I know there are a lot of people that would take good care of every animal but I’m afraid of those who buy animals only “for fun” and later get bored with it. Like for example Justin Bieber:
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/15/justin-bieber-owes-germany-monkey_n_4280837.html
I pretty much agree with all you’ve said so I won’t overwrite ;)
According to wild animals like lions i think they are super cute :D BUT COME ON it is impossible to give them happiness by keeping them in the 30m2 room... It is not that kind of pet that you could keep in a block of flats of course, but even in a family home - you cannot let it out to the garden because you never know what will happen, you also cannot take it for a walk, because I think that it has definitely more power and in result it will take you for a walk :P And if this lion would like to eat some other animal like dog, or a person it would be hard to stop :p
Seeing monkeys in a pet shop is also weird, but I believe there will be pretty much - especially rich people - that would like to have some legal and exotic pet. :P
As for monkeys, I believe it depends if you're home has conditions for such an animal. Like I said earlier, animals shouldn't be kept in a cage in general, they should be free to move around as much as possible, but of course it's not always easy (especially if you live in the middle of a big city). One needs to be prepared for a monkey (if they really want it). My mother, when in highschool, had a Capuchin (you mentioned them, it looked like this one: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/98/Cebus_olivaceus.jpg/1024px-Cebus_olivaceus.jpg) and she says it was a loveable, intelligent, but troublesome creature. Kuba, because that was the monkey's name, could move around the house freely, apart from the moments when there was no one at home. However a few times he would leave the cage and cause total chaos in the house - things thrown out from drawers, papers and documents flyig around. :) She also mentioned that it is good she had a dog at that time too. The dog and the monkey tolerated each other, played together often. So It's good that the person, whoever they were, bough a pair. Animals need company of other animals, not only humans.
I once had crickets and grasshoppers, but I have no idea if that is unusual, because you can buy them in a lot of shops (but probably as a food for other animals?). They were very interesting creatures to keep though, and they made nice, relaxing sounds. I loved to listen to them.
I'd really love to have a fox. Foxes are like a mix between a cat and a dog. I've seen a few videos of people who have these animals and they're just fantastic, but I'm aware it's impossible to keep them in a city. I would need to move into sub-urban or rural area. Plus they're a very big responsibility and risk because people treat them as pests. One can dream. :)
I haven't heard about people keeping foxes as pets, but I know that those animals moved closer to cities and often live in them. Unfortunately they can carry rabies.
I found a blog about foxes, I haven't really had a chance to dive into it but if you are interested go ahead:
http://mypetfox.com/post/5307400847/a-final-word-on-fox-ownership
Ah yes, rabies. That's very important and yet I totally forgot about it! Thanks for the link. I didn't know about this page, it looks like it's a tumblr blog so I'm going to watch it from now on. :) The article is very informative.
Every animal should live in natural conditions to which it is adapted.
I've never had any animals at home, but my friend professionally engaged in rearing unusual animals. He is passionate about what he does and cares about good conditions for their animals. It is a very difficult job and requires a lot of sacrifice. He also had a monkey. It was a baboon. Unfortunately, he had to resign from the care of a monkey because it makes a lot of problems, for example, a monkey all the time throwing various objects at people.
I don't know the legal regulations that must be completed to keep wild animals in the house, so I can't comment about it.
Answers to your questions:
1) For me monkeys are not house pets, so they shouldn't sell they.
2) It can be dangerous.
3) No it isn't, because you would protect your house windows from a burglary etc.
4) I haven't had an unusual pet and I don't wantt to.
5) Yes, I do!
My opinion about keeping wild animals at home - do the animals that are kept in home are wild? I dont think so..
Is it good to keep monkey at home? Of course, if you are able to keep that monkey in good conditions :-)
Have i ever had unusual pet? No, i dont like pets
Do you think there should be more regulations or at least some requirements that should be fulfilled before you can keep a wild animal at home? - There should be test to check if animal cant escape from its cage and the owner know how to handle tough situations (ex like angry lion :-)
Your friend's work seems to be very interesting but demanding. I thought that baboons were big and kind of "aggressive"? It seems hard to take care of them.
Anyway, thanks for your answers. Do you own any usual pets?
You are not the first here to mention that you don't like pets, can you say why?
Oh, if I had time I'd love to have a monkey (the monkey, or Mr. Monkey if it came to that, lol) at home. Wouldn't you? :)
About wild animals - I think that only people who work with animals everyday should be allowed to keep wild animals at home as pets and only if it is really necessary, like when a mother dies and leaves her little cubs orphaned etc. But on the other hand all domesticated animals have once been wild and somebody still domesticated them. However I think that no wild animal will ever have as strong bond with human as the domesticated one.
About monkeys at home - I think that monkeys need a lot of attention and if the owner doesn't provide it, they get bored and frustrated and start destroying everything, which only causes the owner's anger and creates a huge problem. In my opinion only people with lots of free time should consider getting a monkey. I have done some reading on parrots - some breeds suffer from depression if you don't talk to them or entertain them in any way, they start loosing feathers and eventually die of sadness. The other aspect of keeping a legal wild animal at home is that there are very few specialists that are able to take care of your pet. There is a great vet in Warsaw, dr Ola Maluta, she has her own clinic and takes care or the most bizarre pets.
I have lived in a huge house and we have always had lots of different pets: dogs, cats, brush-tailed rats (koszatniczki - the dog ate them), chinchillas, rabbits (the dog ate some of them, the rest was taken by wild hawks etc.), sand lizards, agama (and also some crickets and baby mice to feed it with), iguana (eats salads only, thanks god) and some that I don't remember now. My friends have ara parrot (the big one), hedgehogs, snakes, spiders, insects and many more. I think that only domesticated animals can be 'real' pets because they are more communicative. I find it completely natural to talk to a dog or a cat but it is kind of weird to talk to an iguana for example. I don't like the idea of keeping pets only because they look nice (e.g. fish), I like to feel their gratefulness for me taking care of them. Maybe you think that cats are assholes and ungrateful little bastards, but I think differently.
I've once had a Gracula religiosa (really smart bird) and now we have an Amazona aestiva (it's a quite big parrot). Almost always we get to buy/take animals from previous owners who want to get rid of them (a lot of different reasons for that). We are trying to make best possible conditions for them - my father even made a big aviary on the terrace for our birds (once we had more than 10 of them at once). Amazona usually flies freely around the house.
I think that just like it has been with dogs and cats, you can domesticate animals at your own discretion, but at the same time on your own responsibility. We are the dominating species now and that means we can use nature for our pleasure. In ideal world people would do that in a responsible way, but unfortunately it's a big mess.
Well, how can we expect people to respect nature when they don't even respect other people?
I totally agree with you that demand creates supply and it's a vicious circle. It's hard to stop it because when you see an animal that is already in a small cage you can buy it and give it better conditions (thereby supporting the demand) or leave it in this small cage to see what will happen when nobody will buy it. Lose - lose situation.
It's also about recent fashion for some particular pet (I heard that hedgehogs were quite popular last few years). Unfortunately people don't think and they either don't know how to take care of these animals or just treat them like a temporary toy. I've heard about crocodiles thrown into the sewer in US when they're too big to be kept at home and there are lots of other examples.
I've also heard that hedgehogs are pretty popular right now.
Aside from dangerous predators like tigers for example. I don't think that such animals should be allowed to keep as pets, even after taming them and training them, they are wild animals after all and in most cases they are unpredictable and highly dangerous, no matter the training.
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