Editorial - Exotic animals must be regulated

West Virginia lawmakers are in the process of writing legislation regulating or even banning the ownership of exotic animals.

The new legislation comes after the tragic event in 2011 when dozens of exotic animals were released from a private residence in Ohio, many of which were killed by authorities to protect nearby residents.

West Virginia currently doesn't regulate the sale or ownership of exotic animals owned by private citizens.

Although there hasn't been any specification as to what kinds of animals will be regulated or banned, but the fact that it is in discussion is a step in the right direction.

Some animals should not be kept as pets – especially if they present a danger to others nearby. Luckily, the incident in Ohio resulted in no injuries, but the dangerous menagerie – including tigers, lions and bears – could have hurt anyone who was in the vicinity.

At the very least, owners of exotic pets should have to register their pets with the state, which they currently do not. People living near animals that pose a real threat should know of the dangers around them.

Furthermore, many owners of exotic pets eventually may become unwilling to care for the animals – either because they have grown too large, or they simply lose interest – and release them into the wild. The problem is that these animals are not indigenous to the area and they disrupt local ecosystems.

Such a case has many residents of Florida concerned. According to The Palm Beach Post News, growing populations of pythons – many of which are pets that were turned loose – are wiping out large numbers of raccoons, opossums, bobcats and other mammals in the Everglades.

What people must realize is that every animal in an ecosystem is relative to others. Many species depend on the survival of another.

When exotic animals are not properly cared for, there can be disastrous consequences for the surrounding community. They are a hazard to other animals, humans and/or themselves.

Hopefully, our elected officials will write legislation that will protect the rights of all animals – exotic and domestic.