Wild Life

As y’all know, I’m a sucker for animals. When a small skunk showed up at breakfast time, back when we had three bold porch cats in residence, I brought out a plate for him/her. I don’t chase off our occasional opossum or raccoon visitors either.

There are foxes in the area. I imagine they’ve dined at Bob and Donna’s Famous Valhalla Diner too.

Adorable as they all are, they do NOT belong inside. They’re wild. Even B.O.P. (Big Orange Pumpkin), a stray who moved in with us, made it clear that he HAD to have outdoor privileges. He needed to come and go. After all, he needed to defend his territory, off birds and mice, take down the occasional elephant and, just generally, caper and cavort. He had a real Call of the Wild thing going on. The more vile the weather the more he just HAD to be out in it.

I respect that. I may dream of having all manner of big beautiful beastie living with us but I totes get that this wouldn't be fair or groovy for them.

Coco? Not wild. While she likes to do the occasional runner, she’s generally happy as hell to just view the universe from her front window perch. And Rocco? Retired. He likes to sit in our bedroom window sometimes but, mostly, he enjoys laying about in bed, having me pat him and fetch his treats.

My cousin Albert posts pics of gorgeous large cats on my Facebook page, inspiring big WANT in me. Here’s the thing, I know they don’t belong inside. I’ve no prob (obvs) feeding visitors but KNOW they wouldn’t thrive as indoor beasties AND, given that we live in densely populated Hough’s Neck, it’s unlikely that our neighbors would feel comfortable with a pet tiger out for unleashed walkies.

And then there are bears.

Ohio Department of Agriculture spokeswoman Erica Hawkins said Daniel Chambers was not in compliance with the state’s Dangerous Wild Animal Act because he did not have a permit to own exotic animals on his property.
~~~snip~~~~
Chambers’ wife, Ashley, was at home Wednesday during the seizure. She said she looked out her front door and saw armed officers lined up around the property. Officers used sniper guns with darts to tranquilize the bears, which were then dragged into trailers, she said.

“We tried to comply with the law,” Ashley said. “My husband submitted the proper paperwork that they asked for, but they never let us know that it wasn’t completed correctly … By the time they did, it was after the deadline.”
~~~snip~~~~
Following the raid, Chambers said he couldn’t describe the depression he was feeling, but vowed, “I’m not going to let them get away with this.”

“They think they’re immortal and they’re not,” Chambers said.

It seems there are pieces of the story missing or there's a liar in the mix. Also they think they’re immortal and they’re not def sounds like a threat, don'cha think? Doesn't exactly instill confidence in the Chamber's side of the story.

From the BBC ethics guide:

It is only ethical to keep an animal as a pet if both the animal's biological and psychological needs are properly catered for.

From the ASPCA:

Minimum Requirements for Captive Bears

• A large enclosure, preferably measured in acres rather than feet
• Natural substrate, such as soft earth, grass, and mulch that provides
  opportunities to dig
• Boulders and logs to rub against
• A pool large enough to submerge
• Denning areas and materials for nest building•Climbing structures and hammocks
• Visual barriers that provide privacy from the public and other bears
• Environmental enrichment that provides sensory stimulation, foraging
  opportunities, and materials to investigate and tear apart—offered frequently throughout the day to alleviate boredom and to encourage exercise
• A varied diet that includes fresh, seasonally-available produce presented in a stimulating manner in order to encourage foraging behavior
• Opportunity to den-up during the winter

I very much doubt that Daniel Chambers, in his suburban Dayton, Ohio neighborhood, had all these things goin’ on for his bears. I hope they’ll be moved to a place where they’ll have all they need.