Nick Musick

Professor Sarah Hughes

English 1102-071
21 April 2016
Mediation Synthesis
Should it be banned? According to all three sources used here yes the buying or
ownership of an exotic animal should be legal. In her article "Wild obsession: the perilous
attraction of owning exotic pets. author Lauren Slater talks about owning an exotic animal is a
risk to the health and safety of not only the owner, but also everyone around them. She goes on
to talk about how exotic animals bought as babies will act as a family pet until it reaches
maturity in which case its primal instincts kick in and it becomes a threat to those around it.
Another author by the name of Barbara Rowley has an article that would agree with Slater's
statements. In Rowleys article "Born caged" she talks about how she has traveled to different
wildlife sanctuaries, and how its the same story every time someone wants to give up their pet.
The owner explains how they purchased the pet as a baby and how as it grew up it became to
much of a handful.
Why should it be banned? In Rowleys article she talks about how the exotic black
market is ruining the population of many rare or endangered birds from all around the world. She
goes on to explain that once a bird is taken into captivity the new owner of that bird will find it to
be a handful and try to give it away. Only to find that no one will take it and the only option is to
kill it. Of course its not just birds that are receiving this treatment many exotic mammals also
end up having the same fate. Thats why according to one of Illinois state laws No person shall

have a right of property in, keep, harbor, care for, act as custodian of or maintain in his
possession any dangerous animal. (ILL. REV STAT, ch. 720, para. 585/1)
What compromises might be made? In her article Lauren Slater talks about how although
many owners of exotic animals end up giving them away a few well trained owners are able to
keep them with little to no difficulty. Which means should a person who is properly licensed and
train with a specific animal want to own sed animal then they should be able to. Illinois state law
also goes on to state that No person shall..... maintain in his possession any dangerous animal
except at a properly maintained zoological park, federally licensed exhibit, circus, scientific or
educational institution, research laboratory, veterinary hospital or animal refuge in an escapeproof enclosure. (ILL. REV STAT, ch. 720, para. 585/1) If someone wanted to go through the
many hours of training in order to earn a license to own an exotic animal then let them do it.

Works Cited

"Illinois State Laws Governing Private Possession of Exotic Animals." State Laws Governing
Private Possession of Exotic Animals. Born Free USA, n.d. Web. 21 Apr. 2016.
http://www.bornfreeusa.org/b4a2_exotic_animals_state.php?s=il

Rowley, Barbara. "Born caged." Sierra Jan.-Feb. 1992: 14. Environmental Studies and Policy.
Web. 19 Apr. 2016.
URL

https://cod.idm.oclc.org/login?url=http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE
%7CA11720043&v=2.1&u=cod_lrc&it=r&p=PPES&sw=w&asid=8d742bbea5edc579b930eb70
eb7f4bc0

Slater, Lauren. "Wild obsession: the perilous attraction of owning exotic pets." National
Geographic Apr. 2014: 96+. Environmental Studies and Policy. Web. 19 Apr. 2016.
URL
https://cod.idm.oclc.org/login?url=http://go.galegroup.com/ps/i.do?id=GALE
%7CA366617877&v=2.1&u=cod_lrc&it=r&p=PPES&sw=w&asid=d46f1ca10bc92df0395e20bf
fc9e5349