“The Elephant In The Living Room” Highlights Problem Of Exotic Pets
Written by Vegetarian Star on April 1st, 2011 in Animal Issues, Film & TV.
Lions, tigers and bears!
Is this a description of scenes at the zoo? Or your neighbor’s backyard? Sadly, it could be both.
A documentary which received the Humane Society’s Genesis Award, The Elephant In The Living Room, takes a look at the growing problem of people owning exotic pets.
Director Michael Webber uses the camera to expose the public to people like Terry Brumfeld, a man who’s raised lions at his home since they were cubs before encountering obvious problems that occur when they’re not as easy to care for as adults.
Exotic pet laws vary by state. Some completely forbid certain types of animals while others require certain permits.
Animal Planet has a slide show documenting some of the most bizarre animal laws in different states.
In Florida, it’s legal to own a cougar before it’s legal to drink alcohol. In Alabama, there were so many tigers left in backyards or roadside pens, a group of individuals formed a sanctuary for when these animals were–and eventually they ultimately were–rescued.
The horrible injuries to Charla Nash and the death of the famous chimp Travis, who’d starred in many TV commericals like those for Old Navy, demonstrate owning wild animals will ultimately lead to destruction.
Yet, Brumfeld from the movie insists the lion is the “best animal he’s ever owned.”
An Elephant in the Living Room is playing in select theatres now.
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