How to Get Your Hands on an Exotic Pet

First off, I'm not talking about a monkey or a tiger. (Sorry to bust your bubble if that’s what you were thinking.)

Actually, I'm talking about far more exciting animals; animals that you may not have even heard of. Animals that you see in the zoo and dream of keeping as your own! If you didn't think it was possible, well then think again. Before you get all excited and start begging your parents for an exotic pet, here are some general guidelines you should follow, and follow them in order.

1) Know the animal you're about to adopt. If you want to adopt a fennec fox (I'll get into that later) just because you think it looks cute, then you have to stop and think for a minute. Ask yourself these questions: What are fennec foxes? What do they eat? When do they sleep (are they nocturnal?)? Do they require any special attention? Do they get along with other household pets? Do they require cages? More importantly, is this exotic pet even legal in your state? If you find yourself stuck on a question, then you need to do more research. You don't want to have to end up putting that cute little animal in a cold, cruel animal pound after you adopt it, do you?

2.) Talk about it with your parents. Show them that you know about the animal that you want to adopt. If they say no, don't pester them and yell and scream at them. Just calmly ask why. It could be because of financial reasons, because you already have a pet, or just because they don't think you're responsible enough yet. If you really want to impress your parents, you could kill two birds with one stone; clean out your room, find all the junk that you don't want, and sell it in a garage sale (with your parent’s permission, of course). Then take that money and show it to your parents. You could use that money to pay for the adopting fees, and at the same time clean out your room. If it's still not cool with your 'rents, then wait awhile and talk about it again in a couple of months or so.

3.) So your parents are finally okay with it. Now what? Find the closest breeder. Even if you find that exotic animal in a pet store, breeders are even better because you know that they are healthy and happy. If a breeder is a little too expensive for you, then find the closest animal or rescue shelter. You'd be surprised; adopting from an animal shelter will not only save you a few buckaroos, but it will leave you feeling good inside your heart. If you’re lucky, you'll find a shelter that will let you adopt for free.

4.) Buy the necessities. You wanna make your exotic pet feel at home when it comes home, right? Well then buy it the right things. Some important things to remember are food, a cage (if necessary), a collar, and of course some good ol’ toys. Buy whatever you need, but make sure that you're prepared for the little fella's arrival about a few weeks before he/she actually starts living in your house.

Great! Now you know how to adopt your own exotic pet, and I bet you're ready to get one ASAP. You're ready, right?

Wrong. I haven't even given you a list of exotic animals yet, silly! Here are some exotic animals that you might want to consider. (And don’t forget - you should always search online or in books for more information on the following animals before you adopt them!)

For the "I Want a Cute 'Wittle' Animal" Person: Fennec fox, kinkajou, chinchilla, sugar glider, flying squirrel, hedgehog

For the "I Don't Mind a Creepy Crawler" Person: Tarantula (please research several different kinds), hissing cockroach, hermit crab, frog

For the "I've Got Plenty of Room in My House/Backyard" Person: Llama, goat, wolfdog, pot-bellied pig

For the "I Wanna Adopt a What?" Person: Opossum, axolotl, degu, alpaca, guinea pig, ant lion

Let me assure you that there are TONS of other exotics out there. You just have to go find them! Don't forget to follow the guidelines above. Here is a website that you might want to refer to from time to time:

http://exoticpets.about.com/cs/resourcesgeneral/a/wheretogetapet.htm

I wish you tons of luck with your new, exotic pet!

- Stephanie, 11 yrs old, USA