Pet owners share exotic photos

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 16/09/2021 (1680 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

In the digital age, we’re used to seeing selfies of people with their dogs or cats; they are standard profile pics or social media posts.

After my last column, in which I discussed the proposed changes to Winnipeg’s responsible pet ownership bylaw, I encouraged people on some social media pages to post a picture of themselves with pets on the proposed ban list, with the theme “This is my dog” or “This is my cat”.  

Many people in Winnipeg own a host of exotic pets, some on the allowed list, and some that Animal Services has proposed banning. Choosing who you spend your time with isn’t something someone else can decide for you, and sometimes the most unusual companions work the best.

Any animal you share space with enriches your life. They touch us in so many ways.  Sometimes, just knowing there is another living thing that needs you can help get you through some tough moments.

There are those who support this bylaw who would suggest keeping any animals captive is cruel, and stresses out the animals.  

One expert in the city’s recent Zoom call about the RPO bylaw suggested making eye contact with a reptile is a stressor.

I found this an odd suggestion.  When I was a young man, living in a “no pets” apartment downtown Toronto, I had a small colony of leopard geckos. When arrived home from a hard day of sales, I would sit down at my computer, and with the first keystroke, a number of heads would pop out of caves, and they would come to the front of the cage, where I would pick up one or two, and let them snuggle in under my collar as I worked. It was remarkably calming, knowing a little being was enjoying my company.  I’m pretty sure my “eye contact” wasn’t stressing them out.  

In captivity, many animals live longer, eat more regularly, and do not worry about predators. In the wild, an animal may have dozens, hundreds or even thousands of offspring, yet barely two will survive. In captivity, those which breed will have almost their entire broods survive and live long, healthy lives.

I understand that keeping an orca in a swimming pool is wrong, but the care and maintenance of exotic pets is far from this.  I’m not saying that every exotic animal is taken care of appropriately, although the exotic pet community works hard to educate potential owners, but I have yet to see an exotic pet for which we couldn’t find a proper, caring home for.  

The “This is my dog” campaign featuring the exotic pets people have has a second purpose.

The endgame  of the animal activist movement is that no animal be kept or killed for human pleasure or sustenance. I’m all for preventing cruelty and mistreatment of animals but these groups start with the orcas, then ball pythons, then farm animals and will work their way to your dog.  

It is a slippery slope. Let your city councillor know we are the heart of Friendly Manitoba and that we welcome all people and animals, as long as they care and are well-cared for.