I can has prairie dog?
September 3, 2008 8:23 PM Subscribe
Do I have any options for getting a prairie dog as a pet in the US?
I know, they've been banned since 2003, with pre-existing pet prairie dogs being grandfathered in under the provision that they not be moved from the home except under quarantined conditions, and only to the veterinarian's office at that. But is there anything I can do to get around this and acquire one? Are there any rescue organizations geared at adopting prairie dogs from owners who can no longer care from them in the US? Is there any appeal being made to overturn the ban?
I know, they've been banned since 2003, with pre-existing pet prairie dogs being grandfathered in under the provision that they not be moved from the home except under quarantined conditions, and only to the veterinarian's office at that. But is there anything I can do to get around this and acquire one? Are there any rescue organizations geared at adopting prairie dogs from owners who can no longer care from them in the US? Is there any appeal being made to overturn the ban?
I mean this in the most respectful way possible, because I understand first hand what it's like to think an animal is so cute you "must have" one...
So, a couple of things...
1) They're banned in the US. You're asking a public forum to help you skirt around a law...
2) While the ban may or may not be silly (I don't know enough about why it exists), these bans do exist for a reason sometimes...
3) Most importantly, a lot of animals just don't make great pets... They're freakin' adorable, but crazy amounts of work and they're not domesticated, so they can cause problems at home... ranging from property damage to injury/death... not to mention the distress to a wild animal of being kept in a human's care / home...
Not all animals will be happy and live good lives as pets. Dogs and cats have been domesticated over literally thousands of years, which is why they often make suitable pets.
posted by twiggy at 9:23 PM on September 3, 2008 [1 favorite]
So, a couple of things...
1) They're banned in the US. You're asking a public forum to help you skirt around a law...
2) While the ban may or may not be silly (I don't know enough about why it exists), these bans do exist for a reason sometimes...
3) Most importantly, a lot of animals just don't make great pets... They're freakin' adorable, but crazy amounts of work and they're not domesticated, so they can cause problems at home... ranging from property damage to injury/death... not to mention the distress to a wild animal of being kept in a human's care / home...
Not all animals will be happy and live good lives as pets. Dogs and cats have been domesticated over literally thousands of years, which is why they often make suitable pets.
posted by twiggy at 9:23 PM on September 3, 2008 [1 favorite]
Come to Colorado and take one, they're everywhere....effing pests...
Make sure you don't get one with the plague.
posted by Confess, Fletch at 9:57 PM on September 3, 2008
Make sure you don't get one with the plague.
posted by Confess, Fletch at 9:57 PM on September 3, 2008
Best answer: I'd recommend working with legislators and the prairie dog community to have the ban re-examined and lifted, instead.
The possibility of critters being treated poorly if discovered by someone who has to do whatever the rules tell them to do just doesn't sit well with even the more rebellious side of me...according to that legislation, it would have to be euthanised. Poor dogsquirrel!
posted by batmonkey at 10:05 PM on September 3, 2008
The possibility of critters being treated poorly if discovered by someone who has to do whatever the rules tell them to do just doesn't sit well with even the more rebellious side of me...according to that legislation, it would have to be euthanised. Poor dogsquirrel!
posted by batmonkey at 10:05 PM on September 3, 2008
twiggy: They're banned because they caused an outbreak of monkeypox in humans in Wisconsin in 2003.
posted by LobsterMitten at 10:12 PM on September 3, 2008
posted by LobsterMitten at 10:12 PM on September 3, 2008
caused = were a vector for.
The monkeypox originated with a shipment of African rodents that were housed with a shipment of prairie dogs in a pet distributor warehouse. The prairie dogs got infected and then went to private homes. Most?/all? of the human cases of monkeypox were traced to contact with the infected prairie dogs.
posted by LobsterMitten at 10:31 PM on September 3, 2008
The monkeypox originated with a shipment of African rodents that were housed with a shipment of prairie dogs in a pet distributor warehouse. The prairie dogs got infected and then went to private homes. Most?/all? of the human cases of monkeypox were traced to contact with the infected prairie dogs.
posted by LobsterMitten at 10:31 PM on September 3, 2008
I think a single prairie dog would be a very unhappy critter - so unless you're planning on adopting his entire clan, he's best left with his friends.
posted by The Light Fantastic at 11:19 PM on September 3, 2008 [1 favorite]
posted by The Light Fantastic at 11:19 PM on September 3, 2008 [1 favorite]
As a rule most vets don't have experience treating, vaccinating, or preventatively maintaining one. But I suppose no more cruel than their life in the wild, which is why I think lee has it with volunteering fora wildlife rescue service dedicated to helping wild prairie dogs stay wild.
posted by Ookseer at 12:33 AM on September 4, 2008
posted by Ookseer at 12:33 AM on September 4, 2008
There is a good chance that a prairie dog these days is susceptible to the plague. You might want to reconsider this particular wild animal as a pet.
posted by watercarrier at 4:50 AM on September 4, 2008
posted by watercarrier at 4:50 AM on September 4, 2008
Response by poster: Thanks for your insight, batmonkey. I hadn't thought of it that way, though of course I had no intention of getting caught.
I was hoping to hear that some kind of resource existed to allow ownership of a prairie dog legally, even if I knew the chances were slight.
Meanwhile, I'd just like to point out that prairie dogs do not make bad pets. I understand the logic behind your statements, and it does certainly apply to some other wild critters, but prairie dogs appreciate their humans. Before the ban, they were regularly sold as exotic pets.
"They are active, playful and strong rodents that can make wonderful, affectionate pets when socialized properly and given lots of attention. ... Prairie dogs are very social though, and once they bond they crave their owner's attention and company." from About.com's article on prairie dogs as pets
"The Black Tailed Prairie Dog can make a rewarding pet due to their extremely social nature. They often greet their owners upon arrival and they totally reciprocate the love their owners give them. The Black Tailed Prairie Dog also loves to be cuddled and with their adorable faces and pudgy little bellies, who could resist?" from Centralpets.com's article on prairie dogs as pets
Youtube video of a girl and her pet prairie dog, Scamp.
More Youtube.
Even more Youtube.
Plus, the ones I've played with at the zoo? Total affection whores. Wanted nothing more than to have me pet them all day long, hopped at the sides of their enclosures when I stopped petting them and took my hand away, etc.
Just wanted to clear up some misconceptions. :)
posted by lizzicide at 9:44 AM on September 4, 2008 [1 favorite]
I was hoping to hear that some kind of resource existed to allow ownership of a prairie dog legally, even if I knew the chances were slight.
Meanwhile, I'd just like to point out that prairie dogs do not make bad pets. I understand the logic behind your statements, and it does certainly apply to some other wild critters, but prairie dogs appreciate their humans. Before the ban, they were regularly sold as exotic pets.
"They are active, playful and strong rodents that can make wonderful, affectionate pets when socialized properly and given lots of attention. ... Prairie dogs are very social though, and once they bond they crave their owner's attention and company." from About.com's article on prairie dogs as pets
"The Black Tailed Prairie Dog can make a rewarding pet due to their extremely social nature. They often greet their owners upon arrival and they totally reciprocate the love their owners give them. The Black Tailed Prairie Dog also loves to be cuddled and with their adorable faces and pudgy little bellies, who could resist?" from Centralpets.com's article on prairie dogs as pets
Youtube video of a girl and her pet prairie dog, Scamp.
More Youtube.
Even more Youtube.
Plus, the ones I've played with at the zoo? Total affection whores. Wanted nothing more than to have me pet them all day long, hopped at the sides of their enclosures when I stopped petting them and took my hand away, etc.
Just wanted to clear up some misconceptions. :)
posted by lizzicide at 9:44 AM on September 4, 2008 [1 favorite]
They seem to be pretty adaptable. This guy is clearly having a blast teasing the dog and cat.
posted by tejolote at 10:21 AM on September 4, 2008
posted by tejolote at 10:21 AM on September 4, 2008
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by lee at 8:38 PM on September 3, 2008