Some people just love having unusual pets -- perhaps for their
cuteness or the fact that they're uncommon pets. Even Paris Hilton had
her own unusual pet: the kinkajou she called "Baby Luv." Well, Baby Luv
sent Hilton to the emergency room twice. So, a word of caution to Hilton
and all those out there who want a "different" or potentially dangerous
kind of pet: some of the following animals are not meant to be
domesticated.
1. Camels
Camels are known to be pretty temperamental guys. According to a
report on Fox News when a local TV news crew was out filming exotic
animal farms, an 1800 lb camel named Polo must have decided that
they were not shooting his best side. When Polo became agitated he
attacked his owner, kicking her and sitting on her. Ouch. Oh, and if
you didn’t know, camels like to spit too. And it’s pretty gross.
2.Deadly Spiders
While tarantula (pictured here) bites are usually not deadly to humans
(unless you're fatally allergic), their hairs cause intense itching, so they're
not meant to be petted or regularly handled. Poisonous spiders include:
the Redback Spider, Tree-Dwelling Funnel-Web Spider, Brazilian
Wandering Spider, Brown Recluse Spider, and the Black Widow.
3.Baby Turtles
Yes, they may look cute. But, they can be carriers of salmonella. A
reported quarter million cases of samonellosis occurred annually during
the 1970s -- when there was a baby turtle pet craze. Children were the
most affected by such outbreaks.
4.Alligators, Crocodiles, and/or Caimans
Have you seen their teeth? They're carnivores that can exceed six feet in size.
5.Tiger (or any other big cat)
Although big cats can appear to not be overtly aggressive, they are
natural-born predators, so it's hard to completely train that behavior out
of them. From the man in harlem, New York who thought he could own a
pet tiger to even trained professions like Roy Horn of Siegfried and Roy,
Big Cats have been known to attack -- so they're just not meant to be
pets.
6.Venomous Snakes
Even snake handlers get bit, so why should you risk owning one of these?
The black mamba (pictured here), is the most venomous snake in the
world and is responsible for a large number of human deaths a year.
Before an anti-venom was established, their bites were capable of killing
a human in 20 minutes. Skip the ego-boost of owning "the world's
deadliest snake," since it could actually kill you.
7.Constrictor Snakes
From Burmese pythons (pictured here) to boa constrictors, constrictor
snakes can grow to be quite large and can kill adults easily by constricting
them. They're also powerful biters. Finally, constrictors are excellent at
escaping, so be wary of calling these snakes pets.
8.Kinkajou
Looking like a cross between a monkey and a ferret, when provoked,
this "honey bear" can aggressively scratch and bite. They're also a bit
clinging. Baby Luv, Paris Hilton's kinkajou, bit and scratched her to the
point where she had to go to the emergency room -- twice, in 2005 and
then in 2006.
9.Ostriches
Although this girl seems to be doing just fine riding this ostrich, ostriches
are known to be rather aggressive and their powerful kicks have been
deadly. They're also fast runners, which doesn't help if you're getting
chased.
