The First Exotic Animal Amnesty Day In Florida

Human's, particularly males under the age of 25 are quite impulsive, and it is not uncommon to find them buying large pythons as well as venomous snakes.  The Florida Wildlife and Conservation Department (FWC)  held its first Exotic Pet Amnesty Day on November 6, 2011 - an event for exotic pet owners looking to get rid of those impusive buys, and opportunity to give up their animals, no questions asked. The FWC collected 64 animals, including a leopard gecko, two Madagascar giant chameleons, pythons, boas, turtles, fish, and about 30 Australian sugar gliders. On Exotic Pet Amnesty Day pet owners can turn in their animals without consequences. But FWC officials said most people who turned in animals were just not prepared to keep them. One woman impulsively bought a sugar glider and then a couple more for breeding. She turned in 25 of them, including a few newborns.

An event like this is a great idea and should be copied by other states and cities. Veterinarians gave advice and tips as to how to care for the animals, but the main goal is to prevent people from  releasing the animals into the wild once they can no longer care for them. If the pet industry was think towards the future they would be encouraging, supporting, and organizing exotic animal amnesty days across the county.

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