# Why do people insist on treating deadly wild animals like pets? **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 19, 2005, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-insist-on-treating-deadly-wild-animals-like-pets/317737 "2005-08-19T13:36:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![astro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/9dc877/32.png) [@astro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/astro)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2005, 1:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-insist-on-treating-deadly-wild-animals-like-pets/317737/1 "2005-08-19T13:36:52Z")
RE the headline [Tiger Kills Kansas Teen Posing for Photo](http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,1280,-5219419,00.html) > [@](#): > > MOUND VALLEY, Kan. (AP) - A Siberian tiger attacked and killed a teenage girl who was posing for photos at a family-run animal sanctuary Thursday in southeast Kansas, authorities said. > > The Labette County Sheriff’s office identified the victim as Haley R. Hilderbrand, 17, of Altamont. A statement from the office said Hilderbrand was at the Lost Creek Animal Sanctuary posing for photos with the 7-year-old tiger, which was being restrained by its handler, when the animal turned and attacked her. > > Officers and handlers killed the animal. Emergency personnel were not able to revive Hilderbrand. ---
**Author:** ![cosmosdan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a6a055/32.png) [@cosmosdan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cosmosdan)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2005, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-insist-on-treating-deadly-wild-animals-like-pets/317737/2 "2005-08-19T13:43:05Z")
> [@](#): > > **Why do people insist on treating deadly wild animals like pets?** I’m not sure. Let me ask my Wolverine. Here Fluffy, here boy. Daddy has a question for his big beautiful boy. Fluffy? What’s wrong? Fluffy NO!! BAD FLUFFY!!! AAARRRRGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!! {gurgle} ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2005, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-insist-on-treating-deadly-wild-animals-like-pets/317737/3 "2005-08-19T13:44:01Z")
Really, there wasn’t enough information there to get a good sense of what happened. The teen was probably assured that it was safe, and the animal had a handler nearby. If anyone’s to blame, it’s the owners and handler, but we really don’t know the circumstances. It’s not unknown for tigers (or bears) to act kindly and safely all their life and then suddenly attack one day. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2005, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-insist-on-treating-deadly-wild-animals-like-pets/317737/4 "2005-08-19T13:44:01Z")
Really, there wasn’t enough information there to get a good sense of what happened. The teen was probably assured that it was safe, and the animal had a handler nearby. If anyone’s to blame, it’s the owners and handler, but we really don’t know the circumstances. It’s not unknown for tigers (or bears) to act kindly and safely all their life and then suddenly attack one day. ---
**Author:** ![Xploder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/a183cd/32.png) [@Xploder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Xploder)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2005, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-insist-on-treating-deadly-wild-animals-like-pets/317737/5 "2005-08-19T13:44:03Z")
re: the op Because people are basically morons? Well, teenagers are anyway… ---
**Author:** ![Madd\_Maxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Madd\_Maxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Madd_Maxx)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2005, 1:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-insist-on-treating-deadly-wild-animals-like-pets/317737/6 "2005-08-19T13:44:57Z")
I can’t help but wonder where does one find a Siberian Tiger on this continent that doesn’t belong to a zoo? I mean an alligator is plausible because they are naturallly found here, but to my knowledge their aren’t tigers stalking the wilds of Kansas, are there? I’m sooo going to hell for this though. Haley, don’t forget to take that catnip out of your pockets before the pictures. You know how Tiny like to roughhouse. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2005, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-insist-on-treating-deadly-wild-animals-like-pets/317737/7 "2005-08-19T13:46:37Z")
Agh, double-post. Sorry, everyone! ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2005, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-insist-on-treating-deadly-wild-animals-like-pets/317737/8 "2005-08-19T14:06:22Z")
> [@Xploder](#): > > Well, teenagers are anyway… I can’t blame the teen for this. If you’re at an animal sanctuary and they offer the opportunity to take pictures with an animal that is restrained by a trained handler, I would assume it to be safe as well. Now, the people jumping fences to get closer to the cuddly Polar Bears, those people have rocks for brains. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2005, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-insist-on-treating-deadly-wild-animals-like-pets/317737/9 "2005-08-19T14:14:41Z")
> [@cosmosdan](#): > > I’m not sure. Let me ask my Wolverine. > > Here Fluffy, here boy. Daddy has a question for his big beautiful boy. > Fluffy? What’s wrong? Fluffy NO!! BAD FLUFFY!!! > > AAARRRRGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!! {gurgle} ::inches away from Cosmodan to avoid forthcoming thunderbolt and/or suddenly-opening pit to Tartarus:: ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2005, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-insist-on-treating-deadly-wild-animals-like-pets/317737/10 "2005-08-19T14:14:35Z")
> [@cosmosdan](#): > > I’m not sure. Let me ask my Wolverine. > > Here Fluffy, here boy. Daddy has a question for his big beautiful boy. > Fluffy? What’s wrong? Fluffy NO!! BAD FLUFFY!!! > > AAARRRRGGGGHHHHHHHHHH!!! {gurgle} ::inches away from Cosmodan to avoid forthcoming thunderbolt and/or suddenly-opening pit to Tartarus:: ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2005, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-insist-on-treating-deadly-wild-animals-like-pets/317737/11 "2005-08-19T14:16:01Z")
> [@Madd Maxx](#): > > I can’t help but wonder where does one find a Siberian Tiger on this continent that doesn’t belong to a zoo? I mean an alligator is plausible because they are naturallly found here, but to my knowledge their aren’t tigers stalking the wilds of Kansas, are there? > > I’m sooo going to hell for this though. > > Haley, don’t forget to take that catnip out of your pockets before the pictures. You know how Tiny like to roughhouse. I think most of the time it turns out the animal was smuggled here and bought by someone intending to raise it as a pet. When their expectations of what it’s like to have a tiger are exceeded, they’re often abused or abandoned, and a sanctuary will step in to try and help the animal. Sometimes, though, the sanctuaries can turn out to be just as misguided as the people who bought the animal in the first place, overextend themselves, and end up providing an environment that is just as bas as, if not worse, than the pet’s original circumstances. This line from the article: > [@](#): > > The site says the sanctuary has an affiliated Animal Entertainment Productions, which trains animals for stage performances, movies, television shows and magic shows. particularly bothers me, since in my opinion, providing a sanctuary for an animal, and using animals for entertainment purposes, usually don’t fit together. ---
**Author:** ![Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecccb3/32.png) [@Skald\_the\_Rhymer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Skald_the_Rhymer)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2005, 2:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-insist-on-treating-deadly-wild-animals-like-pets/317737/12 "2005-08-19T14:16:10Z")
I’m sure there’s a good reason that double-posted, but damned if I know what it is. :smack: ---
**Author:** ![Squink](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@Squink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Squink)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2005, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-insist-on-treating-deadly-wild-animals-like-pets/317737/13 "2005-08-19T14:49:49Z")
> [@Xploder](#): > > re: the op > > Because people are basically morons? Don’t forget the Idiots! ---
**Author:** ![Ponder\_Stibbons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ponder_stibbons/32/343_2.png) [@Ponder\_Stibbons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ponder_Stibbons)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2005, 2:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-insist-on-treating-deadly-wild-animals-like-pets/317737/14 "2005-08-19T14:54:25Z")
I think the real tragedy here is that the two relatively innocent parties are the ones who paid the price. The teen – who was undoubtedly assured by the handler that this was safe – and the tiger. The handler and whatever other idiots set up the park are the real instigators of this tragedy, and I don’t see anyone putting _them_ down. ---
**Author:** ![Merijeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f05b48/32.png) [@Merijeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merijeek)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2005, 3:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-insist-on-treating-deadly-wild-animals-like-pets/317737/15 "2005-08-19T15:01:48Z")
> [@Cheesesteak](#): > > Now, the people jumping fences to get closer to the cuddly Polar Bears, those people have rocks for brains. Have you ever **SEEN** a polar bear up close? The concept of the cuddly polar bear is stupid…but if you have ever been up close to one you’ll never want to go near one of those beasts without a whole lot of iron bars between you. Those things are a hell of a bit bigger than people think they are… Having also been around tigers up close while they’re being fed, same thing. I don’t care how safe you say this particular one is. No way in hell. -Joe ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2005, 3:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-insist-on-treating-deadly-wild-animals-like-pets/317737/16 "2005-08-19T15:02:42Z")
> [@smiling bandit](#): > > It’s not unknown for tigers (or bears) to act kindly and safely all their life and then suddenly attack one day. I think that was sort of the OP’s point. No matter how well-trained these animals are, and how tame they appear to be, there is nearly always a wild animal with thousands of years of aggressive, predatory instincts just below the surface. And we can’t really predict when (or whether) that wild animal will decide to show itself. I agree with **Ponder Stibbons** about the wrong parties paying the price here. The tiger was just doing what tigers do, and the kid had presumably been reassured that the animal was perfectly docile. ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2005, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-insist-on-treating-deadly-wild-animals-like-pets/317737/17 "2005-08-19T15:09:35Z")
People keep tigers as pets becuse this is America and we have FREEDOM! Jesus died on the cross so we could be free and you damn intellectuals just try to take our freedom every chance you get. If we can’t keep tigers as pets then the terrorists have already won. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2005, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-insist-on-treating-deadly-wild-animals-like-pets/317737/18 "2005-08-19T15:12:00Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > People keep tigers as pets becuse this is America and we have FREEDOM! > Jesus died on the cross so we could be free and you damn intellectuals just try to take our freedom every chance you get. > If we can’t keep tigers as pets then the terrorists have already won. Personally, i think we should import more **Zebra** s so the tigers have something to hunt. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Finagle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@Finagle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Finagle)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2005, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-insist-on-treating-deadly-wild-animals-like-pets/317737/19 "2005-08-19T15:12:52Z")
> [@Madd Maxx](#): > > I can’t help but wonder where does one find a Siberian Tiger on this continent that doesn’t belong to a zoo. Reuters claims it was a [Bengal](http://www.breitbart.com/news/2005/08/18/D8C2FRJ02.html) tiger. So who knows? OP is kind of silly. They weren’t treating it like a pet. It had a handler. I’ve seen similar photo shoots. The tiger is usually on a heavy chain. Shit happens. Without details, that’s all we really know. Many more people are killed by dogs and horses in the US every year. Why do we insist on treating them like pets? ---
**Author:** ![Metacom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecae2f/32.png) [@Metacom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Metacom)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2005, 3:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-insist-on-treating-deadly-wild-animals-like-pets/317737/20 "2005-08-19T15:17:21Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Personally, i think we should import more **Zebra** s so the tigers have something to hunt. 🙂 [Now that you mention it…](http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050817/sc_nm/usa_wild_dc) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-insist-on-treating-deadly-wild-animals-like-pets/317737.md?page=2)