'Being dangerous is such hard work' thought the hamster, before curling up for a nap. Photo by patries71/Flickr
Buying hamsters, guinea pigs, and many other animals sold at pet stores may soon be a thing of the past.
A proposal in front of lawmakers today could prevent future purchases of exotic animals, including several fish, snakes, ferrets and some birds, like the African grey parrot, in an effort to control the environmental impact of non-native species.
The news has some pet lovers up in arms.
"That's ludicrous. Who would stop you from having a guinea pig or a gerbil? My daughter loves her gerbil," Mike Feior told WESH-TV.
Pet stores say they'd take a hit too.
"It would literally shut us down," said Cheryl Brown, a store rep at the Bird Cabin in Orlando.
The recently introduced Non-Native Wildlife Invasion Prevention Act would ban non-native species not approved by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Click here to find out who chooses the animals.
Despite the unpopularity of the proposal, some animal activists think it's about time Congress stepped in.
"We are already seeing tremendous impacts of invasive species," Animal Rights Foundation representative Bryan Wilson told WESH. In Florida, the overpopulation of iguanas has become a problem, he said. The python population there is also on the rise. Even birds, some of which can live to be 60-years-old, can allegedly wreak havoc.
"These birds can overpopulate and cause a lot of ecological damage," Wilson said.
The bill will require the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to create two lists of animals -- 'approved' exotic animals (those not likely to harm people or the environment) and and 'unapproved' exotics (animals considered a risk).
Those of you who already own exotic pets will be happy to hear you're grandfathered in. Anyone who gets their animal before the risk assessment begins will be allowed to keep it.
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I love my hamster when it dies I hope I can get another one I will not be with out it my dad calls it his granddaughter because I can not have children he wonders how she is doing. ai spoil her roptten and she answers by her name too and loves runnign in her ball they better not stop us from buying them in pet stores i will be mad as can be.
I have mixed feelings about this bill. On the one hand, I wholely approve this measure because there are a lot of irresponsible pet owners. They buy their child a pet, or just buy an animal on a whim and then dispose of it. Red-Eared Sliders are a huge problem in AZ, people are releaseing these nusinces everywhere, they shouldnt be sold. And Russian Dwarf Hamsters are just evil! And Im glad Parahnas are illegal- But Red-Bellied Pacu and Pangasius Catfish should be too! But I love my guinea pigs, and I would be sad if I could not get an other one. I think that they should make people get Permits for certain animals, so only experts and persons with extensive experience can own some of the exotic dangerous/invasive/aggressive animals.