Alternative pets: easy to keep, hard to clean up after

by qxing0001 on 2009-06-12 15:43:49

Pet Information Network (http://www.chongwuxinxi.com/): "Nowadays, many fashion-conscious young people like to keep alternative pets such as lizards, spiders, snakes, and hamsters. They believe that doing so can reflect individuality and achieve the purpose of being different. However, while these alternative pets are easy to keep, once they no longer want them, dealing with the aftermath becomes a problem. My younger brother kept a spider and a lizard, but now he doesn't want them anymore. He's worried about throwing them outside because they might hurt or scare people, and he doesn't know where he should send them."

During the interview, the reporter learned that many young people who seek novelty and excitement have brought alternative pets home. College student Xiao Zhang secretly kept a snake in his dormitory, but later it was discovered by school administrators who ordered him to get rid of it immediately. He said, "Other people are quite scared when they see this snake. It's not right to just throw it away, and it's a pity to kill it. What should I do?"

Regarding this matter, the reporter consulted with relevant units such as the Regional Forestry Department and the Daqing Mountain Wildlife Zoo, and learned that currently none of them can accommodate these alternative pets. The relevant staff expressed that due to the particularity of these alternative pets, if abandoned, they could pose significant safety hazards to society. Some are venomous, and most are highly aggressive and difficult to tame. Many also carry large amounts of bacteria and parasites inside their bodies. Therefore, young people are advised that while it is easy to keep alternative pets, dealing with them afterward is difficult. One must think carefully before keeping them.

Daughter keeps a snake as a pet

Father is scared sleepless night after night

The previously peaceful life suddenly became restless because a snake appeared in the house! This snake was the daughter's pet, but it scared the father so much that he couldn't sleep night after night. On May 29th this year, Miss Chen from Yangpu Community in Xinxin Street, Quzhou City, had to give her pet - a ball python - to a friend to take care of in order for her father to stop losing sleep.

Expert reminder:

When alternative pets enter the home

Don't forget to prevent potential disease risks

According to a report in the Life Daily, young people today no longer limit themselves to cats and dogs when keeping pets. Animals such as pythons, large spiders, and lizards have become new favorites for some trendy individuals. Relevant experts warn that alternative pets pose health and safety risks that cannot be ignored.

A psychological doctor in Harbin told the reporter that there are two types of mindsets among those who keep alternative pets: one is that they genuinely like the animal and want to observe and understand them up close; the other is that they feel they can gain a sense of uniqueness, catering to the pursuit of individuality, eccentricity, curiosity, and coolness among the fashionable crowd.

Experts from the health and epidemic prevention department express concerns about young people keeping alternative pets: squirrels, lizards, and other unconventional pets may carry unknown bacteria, which can be transmitted to humans through biting, scratching, or excrement. The prevention and control of diseases for these pets is a big issue as they may carry dangerous pathogens or parasites. Most pet hospitals are unfamiliar with the characteristics of these new pets, so if someone gets injured by them, it may not be possible to receive timely treatment. From the perspective of health and hygiene, citizens should be cautious when keeping alternative pets and it's better to avoid keeping them altogether.

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