believe that the possession of exotic pets can cause great harm to the animals and can be of
immense danger to humans.
One Green Planet’s article, written by Corrine Henn, on the issue of exotic animals being
kept as pets is entitled Here’s Why Exotic Animals Belong in the Wild, Not as ‘Pets’ in Our
Backyards, which undoubtedly demonstrates the position of the author in regards to the issue.
The title is very straightforward, and the fact that it commences with “here’s why” shows the
readers that they will be introduced to significant points that would clearly answer the question
of why exotic animals belong in the wild. First and foremost, the author commences to speak
about the appeal of keeping exotic animals as pets, as it is something unique and alluring, and
then she moves on to mention the fact that regulations regarding the ownership of exotic animals
vary depending on the states in the United States. And because some states’ regulations are
pretty lax about the private ownership of wild animals, it becomes easy for just about anyone to
come into possession of a wild animal, whether they are able to take the appropriate care of the
animal or not. Furthermore, the author provides the reader with the number of wild animals kept
in captivity in U.S. homes and numbers of attacks that took place as a result of the animals’
escape, and we all know that statistics are incredibly persuasive, because people love and trust
numbers. Henn then provides a list of reasons why exotic animals do not belong in people’s
homes, and she finished off by listing a few dangerous illnesses wild animals can contact, which
can be passed down to humans. It’s important to note that the author knows exactly what she is
talking about right from the beginning, and the fact that she gives out a lot of facts certainly
supports her argument and makes her article quite persuasive. Thus, the author successfully
persuades her audience of her point: that it is extremely dangerous to keep exotic animals as pets
as they belong in the wild.
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