Who'da thunk...(legal to own a red kangaroo)

Draca · Post by **Draca** » Sun Aug 12, 2007 11:51 pm

...that it's legal to own a red kangaroo in Colorado? So sayeth the Division of Wildlife.

Someday I will have one. I will pet heem and squeeze heem and give heem a little top hat and a little bow tie and teach heem to dance.

(Not really. But I want one.)

What exotic animals are legal to own in your area?

Kaebora · Post by **Kaebora** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 12:29 am

It's not so unusual. Most of the western states allow the ownership of exotic animals of all kinds, as long as they aren't endangered. I hear that breeding licences for endangered species are usually kept by government officials. Usually when an animal is prohibited in a state, it is because of the potential damage the animal could do to the local ecosystem if it escaped, or the health hazards the animal may carry.

Racoons are very common in Colorado, and I've even seen some playing around on Matt Sullivan's back and front porch, but they can carry rabies, hence the probobal reason why they are outlawed as pets. You CAN own then in New Mexico though, and a friend of mine had one for awhile. This is because there are not many wild animals in New Mexico that can contract/pass on rabies to the Racoon. They are VERY vicious, and only trust their master. Not to mention their apposable thumbs allow them to open cabinets and steal food.

In New Mexico and my hometown's state of Texas, most animals are allowed (except primates). My plan is to raise a Wallaby after I retire. They require as much attention as a human child, and are just as affectionate. Very rewarding experiance I'm told. Plus they're fluffy and playful.

BlackWolfDS · Post by **BlackWolfDS** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 12:39 am

I'm not sure what legal here, but what I do know is that ferrets are not aloud here. If they got lose and started reproducing, they would have no known predictor and could destroy the ecosystem here...that's what I've been told

Spongy · Post by **Spongy** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 1:03 am

Isn't it kinda weird how they sell Ferret stuff like food, books, and toys though? (At least my local pet store does...)

BlackWolfDS · Post by **BlackWolfDS** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 1:15 am

Yeah, I know what you mean o_O.

I think though, that most people use that for hamsters and such (My sister bought a donut thing for a kitten. It's originally for ferrets)

Spongy · Post by **Spongy** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 1:29 am

Yeah, i hear yah. I used to buy the stuff for my rats...which are now dead

wolf4life · Post by **wolf4life** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 1:32 am

my best friend has two ferrets!

Bandit and uhh....something else

They are cool!

BlackWolfDS · Post by **BlackWolfDS** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 1:46 am

spongypants23 wrote:Yeah, i hear yah. I used to buy the stuff for my rats...which are now dead

Awww, poor rats

I used to have Guinea Pigs, but they died too (most of them)

That expirience was really horrible.. uggg.

wolf4life wrote:my best friend has two ferrets!

Bandit and uhh....something else

They are cool!

My older sister's friend has two ferrets. I forget their names, but they are cute (though they bite and smell kind of bad XD)

wolf4life · Post by **wolf4life** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 1:47 am

lol my friends ferrets are nice! they dont bite.....but yea they do smell funny

Spongy · Post by **Spongy** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 1:55 am

You...not..california...person!
(That was my exact reaction to what you said, wolf4life. Word for word.

)

wolf4life · Post by **wolf4life** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 1:56 am

1. what????????

and 2. cant you read! i live in the dark forests of my mind!

Spongy · Post by **Spongy** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 1:58 am

And i don't know where that is

wolf4life · Post by **wolf4life** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 1:59 am

its up here...

*points to mind*

BlackWolfDS · Post by **BlackWolfDS** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 2:05 am

wolf4life · Post by **wolf4life** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 2:09 am

Kaebora · Post by **Kaebora** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 5:43 pm

I live in my pants.

Anyways... I'm looking into the possibility of owning a Sugar Glider. I just have to make sure they are legal in all the states a commute to and through. That means pritty much all of the southern states from California to Florida. Heh.

Set · Post by **Set** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 5:52 pm

I don't see why people think it's more exciting to have a kangaroo or a wolf or a tiger instead of just a cat or a dog. If you want a pet, a good companion, it really is better just to get an animal that's already domesticated. It requires a hell of a lot of work to take care of anything else - and most people don't even take care of their dogs, for Ra's sake!

Another thing people never take into consideration is how the seller even got that animal on the first place. Chances are it (or its parents) was taken directly from the wild. That's very stressful for the animal and is illegal in most cases. You really don't want to know just how they got that cute little red fox you're looking at, or that dolphin you so desperately want to swim with. (Especially the dolphin...NEVER pay to swim with them outside of the US!)

I'm very against the keeping of exotics and wild animals as pets. I find it cruel. Besides, what's wrong with that cute little puppy you could be rescuing from death right about now?

wolf4life · Post by **wolf4life** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 6:03 pm

people want those things more because their odd, different, and you dont see them as pets

Would I want a wolf or a kangaroo or something like that as a pet? Hell yeah! Because its different! Do I want to take them out of there habitat or their home or anything? Hell no!

If someone has enough money to take care of the animal correctly and have a large enough space for it to run around and be in a replica of its old home...would I want the animal to be there? Hell no! But if someone was going to adopt one...would I want it to be in the closest place to its old home? Hell yea!

People want the animals because they are cool, they are different, and they could totally brag out to people. Fact is...the animal will hate your guts and you may find yourself waking up without a limb!

Like Zoos...ok you know its a big show for people "Oh look at the monkey....lets go see the giraffe!" Im all for that because the zoos take care of the animals correctly in the food, the habitat, and there not on there own most of the time. Would I rather like to see them in the wild running freely? Hell yea!

Kaebora · Post by **Kaebora** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 6:13 pm

Set wrote:I don't see why people think it's more exciting to have a kangaroo or a wolf or a tiger instead of just a cat or a dog. If you want a pet, a good companion, it really is better just to get an animal that's already domesticated. It requires a hell of a lot of work to take care of anything else - and most people don't even take care of their dogs, for Ra's sake!

Another thing people never take into consideration is how the seller even got that animal on the first place. Chances are it (or its parents) was taken directly from the wild. That's very stressful for the animal and is illegal in most cases. You really don't want to know just how they got that cute little red fox you're looking at, or that dolphin you so desperately want to swim with. (Especially the dolphin...NEVER pay to swim with them outside of the US!)

I'm very against the keeping of exotics and wild animals as pets. I find it cruel. Besides, what's wrong with that cute little puppy you could be rescuing from death right about now?

You are heavilly misinformed about the exotics market. All owners SHOULD research the animal and its market extensivly before buying. The majority do. I'll explain further how this helps avoid cruelty.

All legal exotic animals ARE domesticated before purchase, or require a certain upbringing by the owner to make them more docile. This is because all LEGAL exotics are bred in captivity. Because they are bred in captivity, it is not cruel. They don't know what it is like to be wild, and thus are happy being fed by the owner rather than having to search for their food. Most exotic pets bond to the owner as if he/she is family. A happy exotic animal in the home isn't cruel. The only cruelty is people that buy exotic pets without researching it first. They don't know how to properly care for the animal, and the exotic suffers. Most breeders will not sell to you without giving you some lessons in pet care. Number one rule all breeders will tell you? DO NOT HIT THE ANIMAL!

This market is heavilly monitored by the government, and thus an illegitamate dealer would have a hard time selling to a person that is educated about the exotics market. There are a lot of papers to sign and fees to pay before the buy can be completed. If someone is able to skip any of those steps, they aren't legit... and could be selling illegal animals. It's easy to avoid if you're smart about it.

I want to own a Wallaby because they are smarter and more affectionate than dogs. They live just as long, and can even be housebroken. I can't own one yet though. I need a bigger yard, and more freetime. If I bought one now, my busy schedule would cause me to neglect it, therefore I wait until I am retired. I hate people that are in my situation that buy anyways. Wallabys are easilly depressed from being left alone, and get sick when stressed. How did I know this? I researched the animal BEFORE buying.

I've heard plenty of stories about celebrities getting mauled by their exotic pets. They deserve it. Just because you are wealthy doesn't mean an animal will respect you. The paid caretakers are the ones the animals end up bonding to, and not the rich owners. If you care for it yourself, don't buy one at all.

Looks happy to me. XD

Set · Post by **Set** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 6:43 pm

It takes thousands of years to domesticate an animal, not a few generations.

I know more than you think I do. Fact is most people, whether they've done their research or not, can't take care of the animal they get. Reading about them and living with them are two totally different things.

MattSullivan · Post by **MattSullivan** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 7:08 pm

Must...procure...kangaroo! *boingy boingy boingy boingy boingy*

wolf4life · Post by **wolf4life** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 8:21 pm

no animal is going to be domestic at all points in there life!

Every animal whether it be a kangaroo....or a CAT! They are always going to have moments where their wild instincts come in!

And for the people with the animals who cant take care of them correctly...should the animal be taken from them? YES! But the ones who can are caring for the animal correctly and if saying that every animal should be taken back to the wild would be mutany against the owner. If an animal grew up in the life style of a replicated environment with someone then they will come to terms that the person taking care of them is friendly and not a predator!

Animals are smarter then your going them for Set. They can tell when your afraid by just looking at you...if the animal is pissed when it first has to live with the owner its understandable but its obvious to them over time that the owner is there only helping them. Animals can sense if you are there to hurt them or to kill them or whatever else you are feeling. Its something that humans dont have! Its animal instinct!

Do I wanna see a person with...a chimp or whatever treating it like nothing? Putting it in a cage and throwing some food to it every once in awhile? NO! And the animal will never get used to them and their cruel ways!

Terastas · Post by **Terastas** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 9:42 pm

Kaebora wrote:Anyways... I'm looking into the possibility of owning a Sugar Glider. I just have to make sure they are legal in all the states a commute to and through. That means pritty much all of the southern states from California to Florida. Heh.

Sugar Gliders as Pets

In the case of Sugar Gliders, they are illegal or require permits in a lot of states because they are illegal to keep/sell as pets in their native Australia, so they typically only get into the U.S. by illegal means.

Massachusetts probably has one of the most strict sets of regulations over exotic pets. I didn't find a list of what could and could not be kept -- just a big blanket warning against purchasing exotics from other states. I remember last year there was a news clip that kept surfacing about a baby wallaby that someone purchased legally from Chicago but didn't have the necessary permit from Massachusetts and had to give it up (to a petting zoo, so quit your booing).

Draca · Post by **Draca** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 11:31 pm

My best friend has two sugar gliders. They're kinda neat, but they're nocturnal and light hurts their eyes, so they can only come out at night. Also, they're really particular about who they bond with, and their fabric pouches frequently need cleansing of poop/food/debris. Not really my type. }:P

I can't find a list of banned/allowed exotics in California, anybody got a link?

BlackWolfDS · Post by **BlackWolfDS** » Mon Aug 13, 2007 11:48 pm

I don't think this is all the animals, but it's still a pretty long list.

http://www.dfg.ca.gov/hcpb/species/nuis ... ble6.shtml