Monkey

New Pet's Monkeyshines Drive Owners Ape

New addition makes his debut with a BANG!

Cute, cuddly and babylike is how the Dunce family imagined Clyde, their pet. Initially, that is exactly what they got.

Chris, the Dunce's 7-year-old son, had begged his parents for a monkey just like the ones he had seen at the zoo. After a short Internet search, they found a breeder on Craig's List and adopted the precocious primate.

However, as Clyde grew, so did his tendency to chuck china. Once Clyde hit adolescence, his behavior became unbearable, and the Dunces were force to keep him kenneled. For the family's safety, Clyde stayed in the small space for 23 hours a day.

    There is much to consider before bringing a pet into your home and into your life. If you are choosing exotic, don't be hasty. Take a look at some things to think about:

  1. The animals still have their wild behavioral instincts. As they grow and reach maturity, they easily revert to those instincts that can harm you and your family.
  2. Taming and socializing an exotic animal take time, comparable to adding a full time job.
  3. It may be difficult finding a veterinarian who is trained in exotic animal care. If you do find an exotic animal specialis, anticipate the cost of treatment to be much higher than for domestic animals.
  4. Many exotic animals require special enclosures, diets, maintenance and husbandry care. It is almost like adding a newborn baby to the family.
  5. Providing a suitable habitat for an exotic animal with adequate space, while contributing time and resources for behavioral enrichment could cost upwards of thousands of dollars per year.
  6. If for some reason you can no longer take care of the animal or do not want it any more, do you have a place in mind where it can go? Most sanctuaries are full and zoos refuse to take pet animals. What is your plan B?
  7. If you go on vacation, who will care for the pet? Many family members might not be as keen on your choice of pet as you are.
  8. If you live in an apartment or condominium, your property owner may not allow your choice of pet. Do your research ahead of time.
  9. You may have to pay more homeowners insurance because of the pet you choose. For safety reasons, many insurance companies will consider you more of a liability depending on your pet.