Grumpy
10-29-2009, 05:55 PM
http://www.myfoxtampabay.com/dpp/news/local/hillsborough/busch_gardens_hosts_exotic_pet_amnesty_day_102809
TAMPA - You can give them household names, treat them like members of the family— but African Serval Cats, Burmese Pythons and skunks are anything but your average pet.
"Some of these animals are illegal to have in your household," Busch Gardens Director of Education Bill Streets said.
Some are illegal, many are expensive to care for and often dangerous, yet people continue to bring them into their homes.
"It's a huge issue here for Florida," Streets said. "A lot of people don't realize when they purchase exotic pets, the unique qualities that they have."
Employees at Busch Gardens routinely get calls from people trying to get rid of their exotic pets.
"In many cases people just didn't know. They weren't trying to do something wrong, just didn't know that it was hard to take care of the animal," Streets explained.
The park has taken in some like Zorila the Skunk, Atlas the Serval Cat and Safari the Makaw, but many animals are turned down because of space. However, next month Busch Gardens will be hosting an exotic pet amnesty day.
"We've partnered with Plant City and the Florida Wildlife Commission to have a day where people can bring their exotic pets that they can no longer take care of and bring them here to Busch Gardens," Streets said.
Busch Gardens also has a Burmese Python by the name of Lilith. She is a perfect example of what amnesty day is all about.
Lilith's owner donated her after realizing how big she was going to get. Right now she is ten feet long, but will grow to be 20-feet long and nearly 200 pounds.
"When they get an animal that big and not realize what it takes to take care of them," Streets said. "Very often people let them go into our environment and they can have huge devastating impacts on our environment."
Amnesty day will also include adoptions. The animals donated will be given to zoos, wildlife sanctuaries or rehab centers that can care for them.
There's nothing wrong with keeping a pet, but maybe an exotic name is better than an exotic animal.
For more information about the amnesty program, click on over to www.myfwc.com .
TAMPA - You can give them household names, treat them like members of the family— but African Serval Cats, Burmese Pythons and skunks are anything but your average pet.
"Some of these animals are illegal to have in your household," Busch Gardens Director of Education Bill Streets said.
Some are illegal, many are expensive to care for and often dangerous, yet people continue to bring them into their homes.
"It's a huge issue here for Florida," Streets said. "A lot of people don't realize when they purchase exotic pets, the unique qualities that they have."
Employees at Busch Gardens routinely get calls from people trying to get rid of their exotic pets.
"In many cases people just didn't know. They weren't trying to do something wrong, just didn't know that it was hard to take care of the animal," Streets explained.
The park has taken in some like Zorila the Skunk, Atlas the Serval Cat and Safari the Makaw, but many animals are turned down because of space. However, next month Busch Gardens will be hosting an exotic pet amnesty day.
"We've partnered with Plant City and the Florida Wildlife Commission to have a day where people can bring their exotic pets that they can no longer take care of and bring them here to Busch Gardens," Streets said.
Busch Gardens also has a Burmese Python by the name of Lilith. She is a perfect example of what amnesty day is all about.
Lilith's owner donated her after realizing how big she was going to get. Right now she is ten feet long, but will grow to be 20-feet long and nearly 200 pounds.
"When they get an animal that big and not realize what it takes to take care of them," Streets said. "Very often people let them go into our environment and they can have huge devastating impacts on our environment."
Amnesty day will also include adoptions. The animals donated will be given to zoos, wildlife sanctuaries or rehab centers that can care for them.
There's nothing wrong with keeping a pet, but maybe an exotic name is better than an exotic animal.
For more information about the amnesty program, click on over to www.myfwc.com .