Choosing a Pet: Captive VS Wild Caught

When you’re browsing the Puppies for Sale through the pet store window, chances are very slim that the puppy you set your eyes on was plucked from its natural habitat in the forests of South America, and shoved in a box with hundreds of other puppies, then shipped to a pet store near you.

In fact, that example is completely outrageous.

Cats and dogs, however, aren’t the only animals that find their way into the hearts of pet lovers today. Reptiles, small mammals, and birds have become increasingly popular pets throughout the past decade. Many of these animals offer relationships that are just as rewarding as those of more conventional pets. They can adapt to life around humans, show affection, and some can even learn tricks! One thing that often goes unnoticed is where these exotic pets come from.

Each year, thousands of exotics are imported from their native countries and shipped wholesale to pet shops. First off, this affects the wild population of the species and in time can cause a large impact in their numbers. And the number of adult species directly affects the amount of offspring that are produced in the wild each year. Nature depends upon survival of the fittest, and when the fittest survive to adulthood, humans come by and snatch them out of their ecosystem. In turn, we’re leaving a smaller gene pool, and a much higher chance of genetic mishaps.

It’s fair to say that keeping an animal in a cage is a substantially different life than it would lead in its natural environment. Along with this, there are many problems that can arise from wild caught animals. Many carry diseases or illnesses that will only become present after being housed in captivity for an extended period of time. Others seem to just “stress out” and cannot cope with the captive life. They will become so stressed that they will refuse food and eventually die.

Captives, on the other hand, have a lot going for them. First of all, they are produced by breeders who have hand-picked the animals they choose to breed. Those chosen usually show positive feedback towards the captive lifestyle, show no signs of illness, and may have a docile disposition. All are characteristics that are considered favorable to pet owners.

Captive bred animals are by far the better choice for people interested in keeping them. Although they may be a little more expensive than their wild caught counterparts, the benefits of owning a captive animal are great.

Conservation- You can make a difference

When you put things into perspective as an environmental activist or conservationist, or just as a caring individual, the world is an very big place to try to change. When it comes to conservation, you have to think smaller. . . Focus on improving your county, your neighborhood, or your home. There are many small changes you can implement into your daily life to assist in conservation. In the long run you can make a bigger difference than you’d think!

For example, if you recycle paper products, you might not be able to save a rainforest. Perhaps you could only save one tree a year by recycling. Now think if 10 people recycled… that’s 10 trees saved each year. Now picture this- According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the US consists of appx. 301,526,494 people.¹ About 30% of the population actively recycles.² That’s over 90 million people, which in turn means over 90 million trees each year would be saved.

According to Merriam-Webster Dictionary, the definition of conservation is “A careful preservation and protection of something; especially : planned management of a natural resource to prevent exploitation, destruction, or neglect”.³

You can help conserve our forests by recycling paper. Other items can be recycled as well, including glass, plastic, and metals. This helps to reduce the amount of waste building up in landfills and conserves our natural resources. Compost piles are a great way to recycle organic matter by breaking it down. Then, it can be re-used as fertilizer for a spring garden!

Conservation isn’t all about recycling though, you can prevent pollution by carpooling to work each day, turning lights off when you are not using them, and planting trees. You’ll be able to read more about these topics on my blog over the next few weeks.

Believe it or not, I don’t currently recycle. I have decided to take up the hobby and see how it goes. Later in the blog, I’ll be able to post to give you an idea of how much I am recycling and let you know how recycling has affected me.

1. POPClocks. 11 November 2006. U.S. Census Bureau. 2 April 2007. http://www.census.gov/main/www/popclock.html

2. E.P.A.. 30 March 2007. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 31 March 2007. http://www.epa.gov/

3. Merriam-Webster. 2007. Merriam-Webster, Incorporated. 31 March 2007. http://www.m-w.com/