How do reptiles differ from your everyday cat and dog? While they are sentient and capable of displaying affection and love, the primary difference lies in their natural instincts as wild animals. Reptiles are not companion animals, and their natural habitat is in the wild. Unfortunately, many reptiles are still being taken from the wild to be sold in pet stores for breeding programs.
In Australia, taking any animal from the wild is highly illegal and comes with severe penalties. It is also a cruel act to keep an exotic animal as a status symbol at the expense of their welfare and ability to live life on their own terms. This is one of the reasons why we often hear stories of snakes attacking their keepers. These animals are kept in glass tanks with inadequate space to move around, causing them to become frustrated and agitated. For those who already keep reptiles or are interested in doing so, there are resources available such as books on setting up vivariums and herpetology groups. While these resources provide information on creating suitable living environments for reptiles, there is little guidance on how to interact with them as pets. Reptiles thrive on natural sunlight and gentle human interaction on a daily basis. When purchasing a reptile, it is important to be mindful of where they come from. Pet stores are not a good place to buy animals, as they often support the inhumane treatment and breeding of animals. Buying from animal shelters ensures that you are not supporting animal suffering. If more people bought animals from shelters, it would force pet stores to close down, and rightly so.
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