# 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:** 2
**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, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-insist-on-treating-deadly-wild-animals-like-pets/317737/21 "2005-08-19T15:22:26Z")
> [@Metacom](#): > > [Now that you mention it…](http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20050817/sc_nm/usa_wild_dc) Yeah, i saw the thread on that yesterday. Seems like a pretty silly idea to me. ---
**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, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-insist-on-treating-deadly-wild-animals-like-pets/317737/22 "2005-08-19T15:28:05Z")
[Martin Sheen] Never get off the boat. Absolutely God damn right. Unless you’re going all the way. [/MS] ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2005, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-insist-on-treating-deadly-wild-animals-like-pets/317737/23 "2005-08-19T15:28:48Z")
> [@Ponder Stibbons](#): > > 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. Damn straight. ---
**Author:** ![Stephe96](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Stephe96](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stephe96)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2005, 3:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-insist-on-treating-deadly-wild-animals-like-pets/317737/24 "2005-08-19T15:47:04Z")
Why the hell do they have to kill the animal after something like this? That pisses me off. The tiger was simply being a tiger. Just like that idiot and his girlfriend in the current movie _Grizzly Man_. A poor innocent bear has to be killed because people act like morons. I blame a diet of too many ‘feel good’ Disney-type movies that show bears and tigers singing and dancing together in the jungle. Kids grow up and think that Simba would never hurt _me_ ! ---
**Author:** ![The\_Weird\_One](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7bcc69/32.png) [@The\_Weird\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Weird_One)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2005, 4:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-insist-on-treating-deadly-wild-animals-like-pets/317737/25 "2005-08-19T16:10:56Z")
My dad was bitten by a “tame” tiger once. He was about 19, I think, and interning as a junior reporter for his hometown newspaper in Florida. This would’ve been in the late sixties, when Florida was just starting to make the transition from swamps and orange groves to paved-over tourist trap/retirement home. A group of Romanis were in town and he was sent out to interview them. They had a young tiger chained up, but Dad got too close and it chomped him. It’s canine teeth had been removed, though, so fortunately for Dad, the damage wasn’t too bad. The Romanis were very appologetic, and Dad left it out of the story since there was already some concern about local anti-Gypsy sentiment. Anyway, you won’t see me getting within striking distance of any “tame” tigers anytime soon! ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2005, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-insist-on-treating-deadly-wild-animals-like-pets/317737/26 "2005-08-19T16:38:08Z")
> [@Stephe96](#): > > Why the hell do they have to kill the animal after something like this? That pisses me off. The tiger was simply being a tiger. I agree with putting it down; now the tiger knows (knew) how easy people are to kill. I do agree with you that the tiger should never have been put in that situation. People need to realize that animals are not just big, plush, cuddly toys. ---
**Author:** ![Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/6f9a4e/32.png) [@Hey\_It\_s\_That\_Guy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hey_It_s_That_Guy)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2005, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-insist-on-treating-deadly-wild-animals-like-pets/317737/27 "2005-08-19T16:42:33Z")
There used to be some kind of big cat preserve in north central Florida, where an older couple and their younger ward/protege/assistant kept several tigers, among other cats. I remember reading in the local newspapers that one of the tigers just snapped one day and killed the wife, and I’m pretty sure it was put down after that. A couple years later, another tiger killed the younger man and was put down. All horribly tragic, but people who devote their lives to working closely with wild animals are fully aware of the risks they undertake. This was in the late '90s, by the way. ---
**Author:** ![Loopydude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e56c9b/32.png) [@Loopydude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loopydude)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2005, 4:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-insist-on-treating-deadly-wild-animals-like-pets/317737/28 "2005-08-19T16:52:51Z")
Unfortunately, some carnivores, once they get a taste of human, think to themselves “That ain’t half bad!”, and are tempted to go for seconds when the opportunity presents. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2005, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-insist-on-treating-deadly-wild-animals-like-pets/317737/29 "2005-08-19T17:19:17Z")
> [@Zebra](#): > > [Martin Sheen] > Never get off the boat. Absolutely God damn right. Unless you’re going all the way. > [/MS] It’s why I don’t eat mangos anymore. ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Goob](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c77e96/32.png) [@Mr.Goob](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Goob)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2005, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-insist-on-treating-deadly-wild-animals-like-pets/317737/30 "2005-08-19T17:34:32Z")
How about lions? Years ago as a teen I came home one night stoned out of my mind and there was a lion cub in my kitchen. A major WTF moment. A nutjob friend of my Mothers had a few large animals that they never told anybody about. Eventually they got caught and the animals were taken away. Before that happened it was fun that one time to play with a really huge kitten the size of a Golden Retriever. It’s play toys were bowling balls and tires. It was a very young cub, I can’t imagine what it would have been like full sized. ---
**Author:** ![LilyoftheValley](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/54ee81/32.png) [@LilyoftheValley](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LilyoftheValley)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2005, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-insist-on-treating-deadly-wild-animals-like-pets/317737/31 "2005-08-19T17:38:54Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Personally, i think we should import more **Zebra** s so the tigers have something to hunt. 🙂 Hulloooooo zeeba neighba! ---
**Author:** ![Jackmannii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackmannii/32/311_2.png) [@Jackmannii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jackmannii)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2005, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-insist-on-treating-deadly-wild-animals-like-pets/317737/32 "2005-08-19T17:43:43Z")
They can have my mountain lion when they pry its claws from my cold, lifeless body. ---
**Author:** ![Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ccd318/32.png) [@Paul\_in\_Qatar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Paul_in_Qatar)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2005, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-insist-on-treating-deadly-wild-animals-like-pets/317737/33 "2005-08-19T17:43:46Z")
I read somewhere (Sports Illustrated?) that there are more tigers kept as pets in the state of Texas than there are in the wild. People are idiots. ---
**Author:** ![GusNSpot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gusnspot/32/436_2.png) [@GusNSpot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GusNSpot)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2005, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-insist-on-treating-deadly-wild-animals-like-pets/317737/34 "2005-08-19T18:06:58Z")
I wonder if the girl was having a period? If the tiger was male or female? When it was last fed? Was the girl chattering silly high pitched teen stupid talk shit in the cats ears? Did she have on perfume? What instructions did she receive before going into the cage? Big difference between eating and mauling… Trained animals and wild animals that get a taste for humans as food are two different things… Handler and preserve should be held responsible. They prolly have insurance out the ass and the family will get major $$$$$ … IMO, you don’t go in no matter what you are told unless you are willing to take the responsibility for your own actions… ( Not popular opinion these days of " It’s always somebody else’s fault." ) I didn’t need no chains on [this kitty…](http://fff.fathom.org/pages/gusnspot/gustiger1.JPG) ( I didn’t act stupid around it either. ) No guns in the cage or nearby. Real knowledgeable handler that gave clear and concise instructions and asked me questions that some might have thought were too personal but would make a difference in the kitties mind. ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2005, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-insist-on-treating-deadly-wild-animals-like-pets/317737/35 "2005-08-19T18:13:16Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Personally, i think we should import more **Zebra** s so the tigers have something to hunt. 🙂 Tigers don’t hunt zebras. [Crocodiles](http://www.comics.com/comics/pearls/archive/pearls-20050812.html) hunt zebras. ---
**Author:** ![DeadlyAccurate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@DeadlyAccurate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadlyAccurate)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2005, 6:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-insist-on-treating-deadly-wild-animals-like-pets/317737/36 "2005-08-19T18:13:27Z")
> [@Stephe96](#): > > Why the hell do they have to kill the animal after something like this? That pisses me off. The tiger was simply being a tiger. Maybe I misread it, but I thought they killed the tiger to try to rescue the girl, that it was killed during, not after. ---
**Author:** ![NDP](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ndp/32/55_2.png) [@NDP](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/NDP)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2005, 6:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-insist-on-treating-deadly-wild-animals-like-pets/317737/37 "2005-08-19T18:25:15Z")
Closely related to the topic of this thread is [this story from Utah.](http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050818/ap_on_fe_st/pet_lynx) Granted, there’s a big difference between a tiger and a lynx but neither one would be a good lap cat. ---
**Author:** ![Selkie](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@Selkie](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Selkie)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2005, 6:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-insist-on-treating-deadly-wild-animals-like-pets/317737/38 "2005-08-19T18:28:05Z")
> [@TellMeI'mNotCrazy](#): > > This line from the article: > particularly bothers me, since in my opinion, providing a sanctuary for an animal, and using animals for entertainment purposes, usually don’t fit together. The article doesn’t give us much of a clue, but I wonder wonder if the sanctuary isn’t where the entertainment company sends the animals after their careers are over. ---
**Author:** ![Duke\_of\_Rat](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ad7895/32.png) [@Duke\_of\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke_of_Rat)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2005, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-insist-on-treating-deadly-wild-animals-like-pets/317737/39 "2005-08-19T18:38:13Z")
> [@adam yax](#): > > It’s why I don’t eat mangos anymore. Yeah, but it’d been damn near worth risking a tiger attack to smear mango cream pudding on a Vietnam war era Rachel Welch… ---
**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, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-insist-on-treating-deadly-wild-animals-like-pets/317737/40 "2005-08-19T18:41:51Z")
I just tried going to their site for some clarification… Unsurprisingly, the site is “offline for maintenance”. However, through the wonders of Google’s Cache, I came up with this blurb: > [@](#): > > Animal Entertainment Productions, a branch of Lost Creek Animal Sanctuary, is dedicated to training animals for stage performances, movie, television, print and magic shows. Again, that doesn’t jibe with my definition of sanctuary. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-insist-on-treating-deadly-wild-animals-like-pets/317737.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-people-insist-on-treating-deadly-wild-animals-like-pets/317737.md?page=3)