B.C. exotic pet law too strict: owner

Huh... So my bearded dragon cant go on holidays with me anymore. Cool. Not.

I dont like telling people that having pets are bad, but stick to having normal pets like a dog or cat. Exotic pets just leads to displacement and extirpation of that species in the native habitat so exotic pet owners can give them a better life in captivity.

Interesting. As I read this the game hen my wife and I rescued three years ago would be banned in BC because it is not native.

Animals released or that have escaped from their owners care that are not native to the owners ecology can become opportunistic for example the snakehead fish around the washington DC area is a prime example....

even fishing, with live bait recklessely you can transport the spiny water flea in the water your minnows are in, or if you are using crayfish not from that area, you may be contributing to the spread of the rusty crayfish like in ontario...

Control is needed

I agree control is needed for lions, tigers and what more, but for bearded dragons, exotic fish (that dont swim in the rivers here) and more of those small animals? Please.

Snakes, fish etc are not pets. There's no emotional bond with the owner, usually just someone trying to make themselves seem a little less humdrum, hoping the exoticness will rub off. I don't think the issue is only public safety, but also sustainability - many times the exotic animal comes from an endangered population.

Get over it if you're whining about this law. Wear a lampshade on your head if you really feel the need to stand out. Aside from domesticated species, how about just leaving the animals the fuck alone to live their lives in their natural habitats.

I don't think it is up to you to decide what someone considers a pet. My beardy is definitely a pet. More so than the dog that I had to get rid of because it attacked my kids.

If your "pet" is caught up in a valid attempt by the govt to reduce the problems caused by exotic pets, I guess you'll just have to take one for the team. I doubt if beardy will know the diff, except of course that it'll have to be put down because there's no proper habitat available for it around here.

Maybe try a pet rock instead.

A cat doesnt care who feeds him either. I wonder what cats and dogs natural habitat is again? It sure aint the mountains here. I don't think a poodle or a pug could really survive on its own. But hey, whatever you say.

Why is a cat or a dog a pet, but an Australian Bearded Dragon isnt?

BTW, I am sure a beardy can survive in the desert of the Okanagan.

Dogs and cats have been domesticated for thousands of years. Their natural habitat is with us. Nobody has to go in the wild and take some poor critter to put it in an environment that makes no sense to it.

I sure hope you won't release your dragon in the Okanagan - that is one of the motives behind this law, to prevent alien species being introduced. Australia could tell you a thing or two about that.

Why would I? you are the one claiming it wont be able to survive here. I call BS.

So that cats and dogs have been domesticated for ages makes it all ok? I call bs too. We MADE their natural habitat with us. Why not with other animals? Dogs can be very dangerous, as can cats be. What is the difference with having big cats around? In a couple of centuries, they will be what a dog is to us now. No biggie, right?