Many animals fall into the category of "exotic" simply because they are not a dog, cat or goldfish. The trade in exotic pets is a lucrative industry, but many of these exotics including birds, reptiles, and fish, are taken from their niche environment and transported hundreds if not thousands of miles to reach the storefront or dealer that sells them to the final consumer. If you feel as if you can not live without the exotic companion animal of your choice then I recommend taking a humane approach, and finding a rescue route to place an unwanted exotic pet into your home.

Because of the specific habitat requirements that exotic pets require, many consumers don't acknowledge the cost and time that are involved in recreating a healthy environment for that pet. Climate, humidity and lighting requirements in addition to specialized foods make it much more difficult to acclimate an exotic pet to your home than one would think. Because of this, many people discard their exotic pets after a short time. If the pet is hearty enough to survive all of the changes and stresses that it has gone through while becoming a commercial resource, then chances are you could provide it with longevity and a good home.

Many networking groups and organizations offer counsel and placement of rescued exotic pets, but it depends upon how exotic they are. Endangered species, under NO circumstances should be considered as a pet for your home. That being said, many exotic pets do need your compassion and help to survive a situation that has removed them from their habitat. Veterinarians offices are also a good place to inquire about finding the pet you are searching for. Exotic pets require special Veterinary care, so it is useful to find a reputable bird, reptile or specialty Veterinarian who may know of pets in need of placement.

In the case of exotic birds, many birds outlive their owners. When an owner passes, and they have no relatives or friends to care for their bird, local animal shelters or adoption & rescue groups tend to intervene and find placement for the pet. The resources of these groups are limited, so it is a great way to provide a home for a pet and support your local (or not so local) groups.

I recommend taking a realistic approach to the amount of time and money you want to devote to owning an exotic animal. If, after doing extensive research on the habits and requirements of a specific exotic pet, you still feel the need to bring it to your home then exhaust all rescue possibilities at hand. The reason most people want to have a pet is because of a love and interest for that species. The best proactive way to ensure the survival of that species in the wild is to not further the industry that removes them from their home region. We do not want to reach a point where the exotic pets we love are only in zoos or captive breeding programs. Do you part to be responsible for your own impact. If you can provide a loving home to an exotic then I am quite sure there is a little soul out there in need of rescue, just waiting to come home with you!

Learn more about this author, Chandra Janean.
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