American Humane Society opposes the deliberate capture, confinement, breeding, or hybridization of wild or exotic animals for use as pets, and opposes their release into non-native environments.
This position does not extend to the responsible ownership or breeding of established non-traditional companion animals, as distinguished below.
Understanding the Categories
The terms “wild” and “exotic” are frequently used interchangeably, but they carry distinct meanings that matter for understanding the risks and responsibilities associated with keeping these animals. Clarifying these distinctions is an important first step.
A useful baseline is that wild or exotic animals are generally defined as those that do not belong to one of the recognized domesticated species: dogs, cats, common livestock (pigs, cattle, etc.) horses, common poultry (chickens, turkeys, ducks) and some camelids (llamas and alpacas). Ferrets (Mustela putorius furo) are also widely considered domesticated.
Beyond that, the following distinctions apply:
- Wild animals are non-domesticated creatures living freely in their native range. In the United States, this includes species such as white-tailed deer, raccoons, skunks, rattlesnakes, pronghorn and bighorn sheep.
- Exotic animals are wild animals that originate on a different continent than where they are being kept. A hedgehog in the United States, for example, is considered exotic, but in its country of origin, it is simply a wild animal.
- Non-traditional pets include animals such as hamsters, guinea pigs, tropical fish, parakeets, gerbils and bearded dragons. These animals have been kept and bred by humans for many generations and are widely available through regulated pet trade channels. While they are not considered domesticated in the scientific sense, there is a substantial body of resources available to guide owners in providing appropriate care.
Tame Is Not the Same as Domesticated
A common and consequential misconception is that a wild or exotic animal raised in captivity or around people is effectively domesticated. It is not. Domestication is a multigenerational biological process shaped by thousands of years of selective breeding for traits suited to coexistence with humans; it is a change at the population level, not the individual level.
This is an important distinction to make, because it does not apply to the non-traditional pets described above. Animals like guinea pigs and bearded dragons have been selectively bred by humans across many generations for life in captivity, and while they are not classified as domesticated in the same category as dogs or cats, they are meaningfully different from wild-caught or exotic species. There are established husbandry practices, veterinary protocols and care resources available for these animals.
Wild and exotic species are in an entirely different category. A tiger, primate, or certain large constrictor raised from birth in a human household may appear calm or bonded to its owner and may be described as “tame”, but it retains its wild instincts, behavioral complexity, physiological needs and biological drives. Tameness is a characteristic of an individual animal shaped by its specific experience with humans. It does not transfer to its offspring, does not eliminate species-typical behaviors that can emerge unpredictably, and does not make the animal safe or appropriate to keep as a pet. This distinction has serious consequences for animal welfare and human safety.
Animal Welfare Concerns
Keeping wild or exotic animals as pets frequently results in poor outcomes for the animals and difficult experiences for their owners. These animals have complex behavioral, social and nutritional needs that can be difficult to meet in a private home setting. Owners often lack access to species-appropriate veterinary care, and the cost of proper housing, feed, and handling equipment for larger species can be prohibitive. American Humane Society believes the keeping of wild and exotic animals should be left to accredited zoos, aquariums and sanctuaries operating under rigorous animal care standards.
Public Health and Zoonotic Disease Risk
Contact with any animal carries some potential for zoonotic disease transmission, including traditional companion animals, wildlife and non-traditional companion animals such as reptiles, amphibians, birds, small mammals and other species maintained in human care. The level and nature of risk vary depending on the species, pathogen, source of the animal, husbandry and health practices and nature of human animal contact. Responsible, regulated sources within the pet industry can play an important role in reducing these risks through appropriate animal care and husbandry, health practices, consumer education and compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
For example, in 2023, multistate Salmonella outbreaks linked to small pet turtles resulted in 80 reported illnesses and 32 hospitalizations. Among affected individuals who reported turtle size, all reported contact with turtles having shells less than four inches long. Federal law prohibits the sale and distribution of turtles of this size as pets because of their established association with Salmonella infections, although illegal sales continue to occur. The CDC recommends obtaining legally sized turtles from reputable pet stores and emphasizes appropriate hygiene and animal-care practices to reduce the risk of infection.
Responsible sourcing, appropriate animal husbandry, good hygiene, public education and compliance with applicable animal health and ownership regulations are important measures for reducing zoonotic disease risk. American Humane Society supports responsible ownership of traditional and non-traditional companion animals, responsible and regulated sources, and enforcement of laws intended to protect both animal and public health.
The Ecological Risk of Release
The release or abandonment of non-native animals into natural environments can cause significant and lasting ecological harm. Released animals may become established, compete with or prey upon native species, alter ecosystems, or introduce pathogens into new regions. Preventing inappropriate release or translocation is a shared responsibility among animal owners, the pet industry, government agencies and conservation organizations.
Responsible pet ownership and a responsible, regulated pet industry play an important role in preventing these introductions. Habitattitude™ is an educational initiative developed through collaboration among the pet industry, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, NOAA Sea Grant and other partners. The program promotes responsible pet ownership and environmental stewardship. It helps owners make informed decisions about acquiring and caring for non-traditional companion animals and provides alternatives when an animal can no longer be kept. Programs such as Habitattitude demonstrate how industry, animal owners, government and conservation organizations can work together to reduce ecological risks.
The establishment of invasive species demonstrates what can happen when prevention fails. Burmese pythons entered the United States through the commercial pet trade and became established in South Florida following the escape or release of captive animals. The precise circumstances and number of introductions responsible for establishing the population remain uncertain. Once established, pythons spread throughout portions of the Greater Everglades and had substantial effects on native wildlife. A 2012 study documented declines in mammal observations of 99.3% for raccoons, 98.9% for opossums, and 87.5% for bobcats. Rabbits and foxes were no longer detected during the road surveys.
Animal movements unrelated to the pet industry can produce similarly serious consequences. In the 1970s, thousands of wild raccoons were moved from Florida to portions of Virginia and the surrounding region to supplement populations for hunting. Some carried raccoon-variant rabies. Their movement contributed to the establishment of the disease in the mid-Atlantic and its subsequent spread throughout much of the eastern United States. This example illustrates that risks associated with moving animals beyond their established ranges are not unique to companion animals or the pet industry.
These examples underscore the importance of preventing inappropriate release or translocation regardless of an animal’s source. Responsible acquisition, secure and appropriate housing, long-term planning and responsible rehoming or disposition are important safeguards. Responsible animal owners, the regulated pet industry, government agencies and conservation organizations all have a role in protecting animals, public health and native ecosystems.
Summary
American Humane Society recognizes the important distinctions among wildlife, exotic animals and non-traditional companion animals. Keeping animals in human care carries responsibilities for their welfare, public health and the environment, and those responsibilities vary considerably among species. Some wild and exotic species have complex behavioral, social, physical and environmental needs that make them inappropriate for private ownership. In contrast, many non-traditional companion animals have been maintained and bred in human care for generations and can thrive when responsibly acquired and provided with appropriate husbandry, veterinary care, housing, nutrition and opportunities to express species-typical behaviors.
American Humane Society supports informed and responsible animal ownership, responsible and regulated sources within the pet industry and compliance with laws and regulations intended to protect animal welfare, public health and native ecosystems. Prospective owners should carefully consider the needs of an animal before acquiring it and be prepared to provide appropriate lifelong care. Animals that can no longer be maintained should be responsibly rehomed or placed through appropriate channels and never released into the wild.
Through responsible ownership, education, sound animal care practices and collaboration among animal owners, the pet industry, veterinary professionals, government agencies and conservation organizations, people can enjoy meaningful relationships with companion animals while protecting animal welfare, public health and the environment.
References
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Last Updated: August 25, 2026