Poughkeepsie Jounal Artical
lR (845) 437-4BB3 rlashona@poughkee.gennell.com
Taste fo
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stM MIler/Journal nlultratlon
Few laws regulate unusual pets, but think before you buy
By Alee Hunt
For the Poughkeepsie Journal
Perhaps you'd like to own
a monkey. A tiger? Even
a giraffe. Or maybe, liIte
Spencer Sills of Poughkeepsie,
you'd be happy with a furry
chinchilla.
"He has a grumpy sort of
charm," Sills said ofbis 13-year-
old gray chinchilla, ToaD,
named after AI ToaD. former
wide receiver for the New York
Jets.
Sills inherited 1bon from bis
college-bound brother and the
two have been together ever
since. For Sills, Toon has been
a great pet.
But if you really want that
tiger, New York state can't tell
you otherwise - or at least they
can't yet. Currently, there are
no statewide laws preventing
the private ownership of mon-
keys, big cats and other large
exotic animals as pets.
But1egality isn't the only fac-
tor to consider when adopting
an exotic pet, say experts.
As the nation discovered in
June when prairie dogs passed
monkey pox to humans in 37
lab-confmned cases and 72......
pected outbreaks, there can be
health and safety risks - both
to humans and the animals -
that come with owning these
pets.
Still, with proper informa-
tion and a desire to do right by
the animal, they can make great
pets, say owners and exotic pet
dealers.
...... don't .........
The United States Depart-
ment of Agriculture monitors
the import and export of exot-
ic animals and regulates ani-
mals used for exhibition,
breeding and sale, but not com-
panion animals.
"We don't have authority
OVer people's pets," said Jim
Rodgers, a spokesman for AnI-
mal and Plant Health Inspec-
tion Service, a division of the
USDA. "You don't need a
license with us." Rodgers said
laws governing pets are left to
state and local governments.
In New York, it is difficult
to fuxl even a definition of what
.exotic" actuaUy means, much
less a law that regulates those
animals.
Please see ExotIc, 5E
Law calls for
registration
As of April, New York state
residents who own wild
animals must register
those animals wllh the
local authorlti.es, such sa
the town, city or village
clerk. Those failing to c0m-
ply faceflnes up to $1.000.
WUd anlmela 4re defined
88:
. Prlmatea and proalmlana
. Felidae (bobcats, Ilona,
tigers, etc., but not domes-
tIC cats)
. Canidae (wolvea, din-
goes, wo"-dog hybrids,
etc., but not' domestic
dogs)
. Ursldee (bears)
. Venomous snakes of
any length and constrictor
and python anakea 10 feet
or greater In length
. Crocodllla 5 feet or
gteeter In length
SUNDAY, JULY 27, 2003
Beyond Fldo & Fluffy
Here's a list of some popular exotic
pets available In the mid-Hudson Vel-
ley. Prices are epproximate and do
not Include supplies.
Emp.ror Scorpion ($20)
These scorpions come from the rain
forests of West Africa. They have a
mild sting, like a bee
sting. People who are
ellerglc may have
more severe reac-
tions. Emperor scorpi-
ons reach about 6
to B inches In
length and live
an average of
six yeers. They
thrive In captivity,
and are recom-
mended for begin- I
ners leaming to take
care of acorplons
beceuse they are rela-
tively eesy to care for.
Source: Centra/pets.com
H.....h... ($150-$lBO)
The hedgehogs sold as pets are orig-
InaIlYfromAfrlca,'~TheY" ',,"
are covered with '
white-tipped I
spines. They .,"
range In size
from6toB ~~"
inches and (l. _l #
weigh 11 to 15 ' cae'
ounces. They can
live five to seven years in ceptivity.
These are solitary animels that like to
be left alone. They are noctumal.
Source: Centralpets.com,
Petplace.com
...... GIlder ($150)
These marsupials hail from Aus-
tralia, Guinea and Indonesia. They
uaually weigh between 311
to 511 ounces and ere
about Bll inches long.
They have a large furry
membrane extend- '.
Ing from their wrists .,.
to their ankles,'
allowing them to
glide up to 50 yards .
from trea to tree.
These are social
animals that require a
lot of Interaction.
They are noctur-
nal.
Source: Petplace.com
T.r.ntuhl ($20-$80, depending on
species)
There ara more then BOO species of.
tarantula. Tarantulas are
venomous, but., '
they will not bite .
unless pro-
voked and
unless you
ere allarglc, It
wlli hurl no
more than 8
bee sting. There are dozens of
species available as pets. The spi-
der's size and habital range accord-
ing to species. Be sure to keep the
spider in a lightly sealed cage (with
access to oxygen) to prevent It from
escaping.
Source: Petplace.com
VI... .n.... ($50-$150)
These snekes are about the diameter
of a man's finger. They live in trees in
the wild, and need a planted habitat
In captivity. ~.
They can , ", ,e'
grow to be , .11, ~
22 to 46'" . , "'-: ...~
Inches long a.~., ," e" ,
and have ,,~ .' .
an average life .- 0'--,
spen of six years. The
vine snake Is shy, and likely to hide
from humans. They will rerely bite.
Source: Centralpets.com
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