Is Your Lizard Breaking the Law?

If it were up to the Humane Society of the United States, there would be a ban against the sale of live reptiles as pets in America. Their report to the Food and Drug Administration cited numerous reasons ranging from human health concerns, to the humane care of reptiles and the protection of our environment.

Reptiles are best left in the wild. Bringing them in to our homes is fraught with problems, despite the claims by pet store employees. They contend reptiles are easier to care for than cats and dogs. It is estimated that 90% of all wild caught reptiles are dead within the first year of captivity. Even with such staggering numbers, this $2 billion a year business prospers.

It is estimated that 90% of all wild caught reptiles are dead within the first year of captivity.

All reptiles harbor the bacteria Salmonella. It is shed in their droppings, can be found on their skin and in their enclosures. If a person has a compromised immune system, these bacteria can be fatal.

We have all heard the stories of pet alligators that got too big to handle, being released in to the sewer system. It not just alligators that can get grow to Godzilla like proportions. Green Iguanas are cute as hatchlings but at five to six feet in length, their whipping tail can cause nasty injuries. Pet reptiles can be extremely dangerous. An eight-year-old Pennsylvania girl was killed last year by a pet Burmese python. If you thought you could donate your pet reptile to the local zoo, think again. They usually don’t want them.

A ban was recently placed on the importation of some African tortoises that carry a small tick on their bodies. This tick bears a bacterium that causes the disease ‘heartwater’. Similar to ‘hoof and mouth disease’ that ravaged the cattle industry in Europe, this infection could be devastating to our livestock.

Over 4 million households in the United States keep turtles, lizards, and snakes as pets. They can be relatively inexpensive to purchase, which makes these animals all too often, a disposable commodity. If it dies, you just go out and buy another one. This mentality can lead to the over collection of these creatures from the wild. Often the areas from which they are obtained are economically challenged. In order to harvest the greatest number of animals with the least amount of work, the terrain can be destroyed in the process. This can eventually result in extinction of species.

Reptiles have an alluring appeal. They are exotic, sexy and mysterious. If you are seriously considering procuring a reptile, first do your homework. What are its needs? Is there a veterinarian in your area that is practiced in the care of these pets? Remember, when you obtain a pet, it is for life, their life. And it is “Your Pet…Health Matters.”