Suburban Zoos – Domesticating Dangers

by Hailey Trealout

For centuries humans have tried to tame nature, tried to predict weather, plowed trees for homes and controlled the levels of the sea with dams.

The attraction to the call of the wild has brought newscasts to various corners of the world, reporting on the connection between exotic pets and their owners. The needs of these animals can be seen on television, in zoos and in their natural habitat – how they kill, protect and survive.

“These animals are very dangerous; they should either be kept in the zoos or left in the wild. Plain and simple,” said Zoo 2 You founder, Mike Testani.

Testani has worked with animals since he was a child and has experience in raising animals of all sorts for his local show, Zoo 2 You.

“Wild animals do not think like we do, they react,” said Testani. “People instill characteristics where they do not exist, so they look at an animal and say, ‘oh he looks sad, he looks smart, he looks happy’ they project all these feelings and characteristics that do not exist whatsoever.”

In August 2013, Noah and Connor Barthe from  New Brunswick, ages four and six, were found dead in an apartment after an African Rock Python came through the ventilation system from the pet store downstairs. It is believed the 14 foot snake escaped its cage in the Indian River Reptile Zoo and climbed through the vent, which led to the ceiling above the room the boys were sleeping in. After they were found, the snake was destroyed. An autopsy report later showed the boys died of asphyxiation.

With a wild pet comes a wild responsibility – exotic animals have more to them than a domesticated animal which has been taught to live within the space it was given.

“I bought a zoo when I met Holly,” said Rob Lelievre.

Lelievre and his fiancé, Holly Liles, live in a suburban home in Amherstburg, Ont. They have three kids, two dogs, a pig and a chameleon. These animals aren’t lions and tigers, but they are just as high maintenance, especially in quantity.

“It’s a lot of work,” said Liles. “You don’t just get up and make your coffee and lounge around and have time for yourself, you have to make sure you take care of them first.”

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, many exotic animals travel endless miles a day in their natural habitat, while relying entirely on their instincts. Even being born into domestication, an animal’s instincts will never be silenced from its beastly potential.

Brent Robinson is the owner of Vivarium, a store that sells reptiles in LaSalle, Ont. He said the number one thing he asks his customers is whether or not they know what they’re getting into.

“Do your research,” said Robinson. “Not all these animals are for everybody and you have to know what you’re getting into. The more research the better. If you come in expecting to buy, I’m going to ask you these questions because I want to know that you know what you’re doing when it comes to taking care of these animals.”

In 2009, 55-year-old Charla Nash went over to her friend, 70-year-old Sandra Herold’s house to help bring her chimpanzee back home after he ran away. Upon finding Travis, the 200 pound chimp, he immediately lunged at Nash and began mauling her. By the time paramedics arrived, Nash had lost her hands, nose, eyes, lips, facial bone structure and had brain tissue injuries. A few months later, her face was shown during her first interview with Oprah Winfrey, giving the rest of the world some insight on the harsh reality many exotic pet owners go through.

“All mammals are adorable when they’re babies, but they mature and as soon as they hit maturity, hormones kick in and it becomes a wild animal,” said Testani. “It’s totally unpredictable at that point, there’s sexual problems, in other words it’s going to attack –Then it will be off to be destroyed. You raised a wild animal in captivity that does not know how to behave or survive in the wild and now it’s stuck in limbo.”

The 2010 documentary, The Elephant in the Living Room directed by Michael L. Webber, captured undercover footage of the exotic animal market, a trade that is still completely legal.

This is where the exotic possibilities take place – where anyone, professional or not, can obtain any creature with a ‘for sale’ sign on it.

“Sometimes people want what they can’t have,” said Robinson. “It’s weird because it’s like an addiction. Most people who keep reptiles don’t just have one, they have several. I always ask my customers, ‘why can’t you just have one?’ We can own one cat or one dog, but we can’t just own one reptile. I still have yet to find an answer to that question.”

Tim Harrison is an animal rights activist who spoke to officials in the documentary. His main message is directed at the government, trying to make the act of housing exotic animals illegal.

“It’s important for people to see that these things are so easy to get,” said Harrison. “I could walk out with a deadly snake without anybody saying ‘boo’ to me. It’s absolutely ridiculous.”

Some of the most powerful animals in the world are being confined to the walls of suburban homes – becoming not only a risk via teeth and strength, but also by disease and infection.

“People who don’t own animals or have never owned an animal and they’re not sure what kind of animal they want, need to do their research,” said Lelievre. “When you read about it, they’ll tell you what will happen and then you will know and you’ll be able to make an informed decision as to whether that’s going to be something that’s going to bother you or whether it’s something you can deal with.”

You never know if what you’re seeing on Discovery Channel is in the house next door. Professionals urge the public to report any activity involving exotic animals if they feel the animal is in danger, or being mistreated.