The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) has lobbied for dangerous wild animal bills in various states throughout the country. As we enter the legislative season in many states, it seems timely to review the stated position of HSUS regarding wild animals as pets.

The organization states it "strongly opposes keeping wild animals as pets." It defines wild animals broadly to include "any non-domesticated native or exotic mammal, bird, reptile, amphibian, fish, or invertebrate, regardless of whether the animal is wild caught or captive bred." Thus, HSUS considers most pets to be wild animals.

HSUS asserts wild animals make unsuitable pets under virtually all circumstances because very few people are properly equipped or have the expertise to maintain them.

The extreme reach of dangerous wild animal legislation was revealed during a rule-making process in West Virginia last year. Pursuant to a DWA law supported by HSUS in the state, the proposed list of DWAs included all salamanders, tree frogs, clawed frogs, toads, and turtles (except those native to West Virginia).

In response to this proposed list, the WV director for HSUS supported (on page 987) the proposed list with the exception of a suggestion to clarify that domestic rabbits were not DWAs, and a request to add boa constrictors.

Although turtles, salamanders, tree frogs, clawed frogs and toads have been removed from the DWA list, it is very clear that HSUS supported their listing as DWAs.

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