One of the biggest arguments raised by the opposition is the ethics behind keeping exotic companion animals.

There are many readers here who would say it is not right to keep primates, because you can not recreate the environment for those animals to be sustained within captivity.

This may or may not be true.

Certainly l think it is never possible to with 100% accuracy recreate the entire environment that primates would receive in the wild, but l do believe that all keepers can in many respects recreate to a certain degree certain elements of the natural habitats that a species may enjoy living wild.

But this as said is the main argument from the opposing side for not just primates but for all species that are kept by collectors, enthusiasts and those passionate about exotic husbandry.

The biggest question they raise is this:

"Can you justify keeping exotics?"

So the question to the readers is as follows:

Can you justify keeping reptiles and for those of you who do, also this question, can you justify keeping exotic mammals?

Rory Matier
Pro Keepers Lobby

How can you justify any hobby ? especially ones that involve animals.

Captive reptiles are free from disease, injury, predation and weather extremes but that is about all you can say... and even then with the conditions some are kept in the first two are highly debatable. They also have fresh water and food as and when they require it... or at least they should do.

Does this justify keeping them ? No it doesn't. The plain and simple truth is I keep snakes because I like them and find them interesting and I am confident that I can give them long and healthy lives.

I don't believe that anyone can justify keeping any animal since every animal kept by man is kept for the benefit of man, not for the benefit of the animal. I do not buy the 'it's for the future of the animal and the species' ... that's just bull. No captive bred animal should ever be released into the wild. We are creating pets, nothing more and nothing less.

But then if they are kept well, are healthy and are content enough to express their natural behaviours in captivity, I don't believe that the anti's can justify forcing us to stop keeping them either.

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http://www.herpcare.org.uk - Herpetocultural Care Guides

http://www.happinet.co.uk

Exotic mammals follow the same argument in my view. If the keeper provides for their needs and the animal is free to express it's natural behaviour then it is absolutely no different to the keeping of reptiles.

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http://www.herpcare.org.uk - Herpetocultural Care Guides

http://www.happinet.co.uk

i keep snakes because it is my right to. i am a law abiding citizen, i work, i pay my tax, i pay for the right of freedom of expression, so if i want to express myself by looking after exotics then thats what i do. Does that justify keeping animals as a pet, not really from a moral point of view. I justify it to myself because i know that if the snake is in my care then it will be provided for properly and hopefully live a long and happy life, thats enough justification for me.

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ummmmm bop.

non exotic animals are the same also, cats, dogs, Fish, horses.
either you can justify keeping animals or not..regardless of what they are [my opinion, nothing more]
And furthermore The same goes for justifying everything we do....
For many years now Man has not had to justify what he does, not to nature, not to god, not even to fellow man.

I can certainely justify keeping pets more freely than i can justify cutting down a tree, spraying deodrant under my arm, riding in a car that is anything less than 100% eco friendly, or even buying a luxury item we dont really need.

Within the limits and standards man has set for himself I can see no harm in leeping Pets, exotic or otherwise and giving them the very best possible care.

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Entire collection for sale
http://www.reptileforums.co.uk/lizar...h-suffolk.html
Please acknowledge.

One of the reasons I keep reptiles over other animals is the fact that Im allergic to many types of animal fur. If furless exotics weren't available, the chances are I wouldn't keep pets at all.

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My Scaley Little Clan2.3.0 Royal Pythons1.0.0 Bearded Dragon1.2.0 BCI0.1.0 BCC x BCI0.0.1 Ackie1.0.0 Hoggie

Hi Dean,

In recent times, the antis have classed all animals within our care as exotic companion animals. This includes, dogs, cats, fish, gerbils, birds the lot. So the question is aimed at all fraternities and all the animals we keep.

To make the clarification easier to this forum, it was aimed at reptiles and exotic mammals.

R
PKL

i cant jusify it.. 100%

it may be our legal right at the moment..

but theres not a week goes by where i dont wonder...

water dragon... if only you could swim in rivers and jump from branch to branch.. ( soppy like a sad LASSIE film yes.. but honest)

etc etc

also the same for my snakes and other lizards...

i feel this way but tend not to linger on it..

I keep these animals as i find them both interesting, and beautiful... they amaze me.. but i also feel sometimes very selfish....

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I don't think any hobby has a justifiable reason - my other hobby is expensive handbags how can I justify spending over £400 on one - simple, I can't.

I think for the most part, any hobby boils down to our own narcissism as a society. Can anyone say they keep thier snakes or lizards for the hell of it? Just ofr the hell of it with no pointers to keeping them because we like them, because it gives me personal satisfaction caring for them?? That is narcissism.

Now, I am not for one minute saying that that is wrong in any way - I am narcissistic - I keep my animals because I enjoy them, it gives me satisfaction knowingt hey are safe and loved with my family and me, that they are safe from predators nad such but whatever way it is dressed up it still boils down to self satisfaction

Any more narcissistic keepers here??

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hands up.... me... why else keep an animal. unless its a working horse or dog on a farm

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