Use Of Exotic Animals In Sterling North's Rascal

In the book Rascal by Sterling North, Sterling owns an uncommon and bizarre array of animals. From woodchucks to skunks and crows to now his most recent addition, a raccoon! There has been a gradually increasing wave to own an exotic animal as a pet. In a world where people want to do their own thing and be different, obtaining and owning something that is unique and somewhat controversial is becoming a lot more common. But, when you boil down the facts, the truth is that exotic animals should not be owned as pets for reasons such as wild instincts, the unmaintainability of these pets, and the possible severe health risks accompanied with being around these animals.
Exotic animals should not be allowed to be owned as pets because plainly stated, exotic animals …show more content…
They say if the owner is willing to take on the extra responsibility and treat the animal well, then there shouldn't be any problems.
However, that simply isn't true. Owning an exotic animal takes a great level of commitment. Supporters of this argument totally disregard that exotic animals are considered exotic because one; they are undomesticated, wild animals; and two, the requirements that they need to survive is quite extreme compared to the common pets we have today.
Most exotic pets are purchased when they are young, but they become more and more unmanageable and aggressive as they get older. As they mature and get bigger, most of these animals will need a larger living space. If the owners are not capable of acquiring this extra space, the animals will become frustrated with nothing to do besides walk around a small enclosure. At this point, they will often begin to perform behaviors such as pacing or self-mutilation, signaling toward extreme mental distress. The want for these exotic animals is usually short-lived, yet it is the exotic animals who suffer in the long