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An animal handler with thousands of hours of experience has died after being mauled by a 1,000-pound liontiger hybrid he was feeding at an Oklahoma animal sanctuary. Peter Getz, 32, had entered the big cats enclosure on Wednesday while it was feeding, a violation of standard procedures. The hybrid cat, called a liger, bit Getz on the neck and back before other handlers rescued him and called 911. He was taken to a Tulsa hospital, where he died Thursday night.
August 2006, Chicago: A 14-year-old girl was hospitalized after a pet rhesus macaque monkey escaped from a cage. The girl's arm was reportedly "bitten to the bone."
June 2005, Morehead, Kentucky: A monkey reached through a car window and grabbed and bit a drive-thru worker, while the primate's owner was picking up an order. November 2001, Cleveland, Ohio: Someone took their pet capuchin monkey out to a restaurant. It escaped and scratched up a diner, who later sued, describing the animal as ferocious and vicious. August 2000, Jessamine County, Kentucky: A woman who was eight months pregnant was hospitalized after one of her two pet rhesus macaques attacked her when their cages were being cleaned. The woman was given anti-viral medication, a hazard to her pregnancy, due to fears the monkey might carry herpes B (as many do). She had allegedly been inspired to purchase the monkeys after seeing them ride bicycles in a circus.
Venomous Snake Collector Attacked by His Menagerie A Virginia man who was keeping 50 to 60 venomous snakes in his basement (despite the fact that he had young kids in the house) ended up "bitten" by his hobby in 2001. Tom Townsend was apparently feeding a rat to his pet spectacled cobra (which comes from India) when it lounged at him. Townsend's life was saved in the nick of time after he was airlifted for treatment with antivenom. One of Townsend's exotic vipers was allegedly so deadly that a state biologist called it a "two-stepper," meaning "You get bit, you take two steps and die." Oregon Collector Bit After Putting Rattlesnake in His Mouth It's a bit unclear if the rattlesnake in this incident was truly a pet, but according to accounts a young man by the name of Matt Wilkinson from Portland, Oregon had been keeping a reptile he found near the side of a road. Allegedly, Wilkinson was relaxing with his girlfriend and some beers when he decided to try to impress her by sticking the 20-inch rattler in his mouth. Perhaps surprising no one, the young man was bitten. He was rushed to a hospital and received a tracheotomy.
The Mauling of Roy Horn Perhaps the most famous recent tiger attack occurred on Oct 3, 2003, when Roy Horn of Siegfried and Roy was bitten by the 600-pound white tiger Montecore at The Mirage in Las Vegas -- on the performer's 59th birthday no less. The sevenyear-old tiger had been born in captivity and raised entirely by human beings. Although he was a performing animal, Montecore was also a close personal pet of Horn, so we thought the incident should be included. The event sparked national horror and debate about the role of exotic animals in entertainment and modern society.
10-Year-Old Dragged Under Fence to Death by Tiger Think fences will keep you safe? In 2003 in Millers Creek, NC Ruth Bynum's 400-pound Bengal tiger dragged her 10-year-old nephew under a fence and into his cage, where the boy was mauled to death. Clayton James Eller had been shoveling snow and apparently got too close. 3-Year-Old Boy Has Arm Bitten Off by Uncle's Pet In March 2000 in Channelview, TX a 3-yearold boy had his arm bitten off by his uncle's "pet" tiger.
Pet Lynx Mauls Young Girl In August 2005 in Clackamas, OR, an escaped pet lynx pounced on a six-year-old girl and began clawing her head. Pet Bobcat Mauls Toddler In April 1997 in Dallas a pet bobcat mauled a toddler, who lost a finger, part of his heel and a bit of his cheek.
10-Year-Old Girl Killed by Family Pet In another tragic tiger encounter, a 10-year-old girl helping her stepfather groom a big cat died after the tiger clamped her head in its jaws. "No big cat can be tamed or trained to be a safe, trustworthy actor or companion," claims an HSUS spokesperson. "No matter how long you've had the animal, or how well he's behaved in the past, every moment spent in direct contact with a lion or tiger brings with it the risk of injury or death for the human handler or owner." Perhaps 15,000 people keep lions, tigers, cougars and other big cats as pets.
Wild animals often become very difficult pets, especially once they reach maturity and / or full size. They can be aggressive and some larger pets are dangerous simply due to the combination of sheer strength and natural instincts. Furthermore, problem behaviors develop since animals in captivity can become frustrated at not being able to exhibit natural behavior, or from being confined to small spaces.
The Humane Society of the United States strongly opposes keeping wild animals as pets. This principle applies to both native and nonnative species, whether caught in the wild or bred in captivity. The overwhelming majority of people who obtain these animals are unable to provide the care they require.
Caring for wild animals is difficult or impossible Baby animals grow up Wild animals spread disease Domestication takes centuries Capturing wild animals threatens their survival
You can do several things to help stop private possession of exotic animals: -For the animals sake and for your health and safety, please do not buy exotic animals as pets. -If you observe an exotic animal being abused, living in deplorable conditions, etc., report it to the appropriate animal control agency. -Educate others. Write a Letter to the Editor. Share this fact sheet with friends and family. -Support legislation at all levels to prohibit private possession of exotic animals. -Find out how your state, city and county regulates private possession of exotic animals. For more information, see our website. If your state, city or county does not prohibit private possession, contact your state senator and representative or your city and county council members and urge them to introduce legislation banning possession of exotic animals.
If you are considering a wild animal as a pet, the first thing to do is check the laws where you live. There may be local laws (at your city or county level), or laws at the state/provincial or federal levels that restrict the types of pet you may keep. Don't rely on information from the internet, and don't assume just because you can find an animal for sale locally that it is legal where you are. Get official confirmation; ignorance of the law will not protect you or your pet if you are turned in or discovered, and your pet will likely be confiscated.