Protect_The_Privilege

Everyone has heard the phrase "drug wars" or the "war on drugs." Today's media likes catchy phrases like that because it emphasizes the importance of an issue.
When was the last news flash on the war against private pet ownership?

"Pitbull attacks and mauls neighbors child...."
"Giant snake owner found barely alive...."

How often do you read these captions? What do you think when you read them? Many people feel that there need to be more laws banning these animals from being owned by private citizens.

Yes, there should be laws. But not laws banning these animals. There should be laws promoting responsible pet ownership.

In the United States, restrictions on the type, number, sex, and even color pet a private citizen may own are plentiful. California still bans ferrets, as do quite a few other states. Restrictions on owning exotic animals such as skunks, sugar gliders, wolf dogs and hedgehogs are even more plentiful. Even traditional, mainstream pets have restrictions. Dog breeds such as Rottweilers, German Shepherds, "pit bulls," and Dobermans are often banished from neighborhoods due to so called "aggression problems."
Is there a valid problem with these animals? Yes. Are they ALL mean, rabid, aggressive, dirty or dangerous? No. So what's the problem? Irresponsible pet ownership.

Buying an animal for the wrong reasons can have a drastic affect on your life and the animals well-being. In this next set of pages, I hope to dispell some myths and provide information on being a responsible pet owner. Only through educating people, both owners and non-pet owners, can we protect our priviledge to live with animals such as those listed above.