IUCN / SSC Cat Specialist Group - Digital Cat Library |
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| Thies, T.Q. | |
| History and function of US Sanctuaries | |
| 2010 Book Chapter | |
If asked what America's latest homeless pet was, what would your answer be? Companion animals like dogs and cats quickly come to mind. Most people would be astonished to know that tigers and other dangerous exotic animals lead the growing list of abandoned and abused animals in the United States. It is sad that an animal struggling from becoming extinct in the wild is overpopulated and virtually becoming homeless in our country. Tigers are easily acquired on the internet as well as from newspaper ads. They are bred in backyards similar to puppy mills in crowded and filthy conditions. Usually, they are housed in corn cribs with barely enough space to turn around. Buyers range from the animal lover who believes that they have rescued the tiger from a cruel environment, to egotistical humans who believe pet tigers are a status symbol. But they typically all have one thing in common-they have no respect for the animal and, therefore, are putting their own needs and desires first. Buyers blame the breeders because if there were no cubs to buy, they would not purchase them. Breeders blame the buyers, arguing they only breed because there is demand; and let's not forget the conservation argument, simply a convenient excuse to breed inbred animals for profit. Many experts in the animal welfare movement blame zoos for disposing of their surplus animals unethically in the 1970s, which they believe caused the influx of tigers and other animals into the private sector. Some blame the United States Department of Agriculture and the Federal government for having such lax requirements and poor enforcement. But in the end, no matter where the blame lies, the bottom line is that there is a growing problem in the United States of tigers being discarded with no place to go. |
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(c) IUCN/SSC Cat Specialist Group ( IUCN - The World Conservation Union) |