There are many undomesticated pets in Florida that some residents feel the need to own. I’m from an area in New Jersey where the only exotic pets I’ve seen are reptiles like snakes and lizards or hybrids wolf-like dogs. I never felt the desire to own anything that needs more space than my apartment back home, which is why I have a Yorkie. However, there are people who feel the need to obtain undomesticated animals and give them a home. Every so often I’d hear stories of people taking in stray cats or dogs; once in a while people would go beyond the norm and own birds or rodents like rats and squirrels. The only downside with taking in these animals is that some people have no idea how to take care of them.
Animals are cute, sometimes too cute for their own good, which is probably why so many empathetic people want to take in undomesticated animals. The problem with this is that people do not realize the possible dangers of caring for wild animals. Undomesticated animals, although intriguing, can be dangerous. Wild animals are unpredictable, and if you approach a wild animal the wrong way, there’s no telling how the animal may react. Moreover, if you do manage to take in an animal, the status of the animal’s health may affect your own. The symptoms of rabid animals are not easy to spot for people who are not knowledgeable of the disease. Taking in a stray animal can be risky if one is not accustomed to the behavior of wild animals.
Despite the unpredictability of wild animals, it is cool to watch people interact with their undomesticated pets. Those pets, however, are no longer undomesticated if they are legally obtained by someone who is certified to own them and has experience with them. There are a lot of legal restrictions for everyday people that want to own undomesticated pets, and for good reasons. Wild animals, some more exotic than others, are able to be obtained in Florida. You can own an ostrich, deer, fox and many more exotic animals. In spite of that, different states have undomesticated animals organized under different classes that determine how much of a risk they are to the general public. People who want to add these undomesticated creatures to their home are going to need a permit. In some cases, experience with the animal people are planning to care for is also a requirement for obtaining the animal. I can not personally relate to wanting to own an undomesticated animal, but the laws that are put into place ensure that wild animals refrain from falling into the wrong hands.
