12 Most Dangerous 'Pets'

Sometimes humans feel the call of the wild, which can cause us to do something a little out of our comfort zone. However, it is very rare that a wild animal feels the call of domesticity. Still, plenty of people continue to take on wild animals as pets. While the outcome can occasionally be surprisingly sweet, most of the time, owners are flirting with disaster. Watch what dangerous creatures some folks have decided to take on as pets, and judge how wise those decisions were. 

12. NO MORE MONKEYING AROUND

Animal: Chimpanzee 

Location: Las Vegas, Nev.

What Happened: While we may share 99 percent of out genetic code with chimpanzees, that doesn't mean they want to be our neighbors. C.J. the chimp has escaped from his backyard cage twice in one month, terrorizing locals in the surrounding area, and causing chaos in the streets. 

11. THE SNAKE ESCAPE

Animal: Python

Location: Seattle, Wash.

What Happened: A 7-foot-long Burmese python broke out of its home and went for a slither on the streets. The animal’s escape caused a panic, since the creature is known for ambush hunting and it's powerful contriction abilities. Many areas are having a growing problem with dangerous snakes, as owners abandon the animals when they find that they are too much work. 

10. NO LAUGHING MATTER

Animal: Hyena

Location: Miami, Fla.

What Happened: Even though hyenas are one of the most feared predators in the wild, Bryan Hawn decided to illegally raise one in his apartment. Hawn dealt with the hyena's destructive and dangerous behavior, seeing the animal into adulthood without any formal training. 

9. HOME, HOME ON THE RANGE

Animal: Buffalo 

Location: Texas

What Happened: A couple decided to keep their favorite buffalo from a herd they sold and trained it to be a pet. Wildthing the buffalo, who is now close to 2,500 pounds, lives in the house with the pair and a younger buffalo, both of which are still working on potty training. Their owner, a former rodeo performer, says that he understands the powerful animal can easily kill a man using its horns, but doubts that will happen with his peculiar pet.  

8. THAT BITES

Animal: Monitor Lizard

Location: Delaware

What Happened: Ron Huff saw himself as a true reptile wrangler, collecting several monitor lizards and letting the animals roam around his home freely. The pets would often bite Huff, breaking the skin, but the owner said he never feared the creatures. Unfortunately, things escalated and Huff was later found dead in his apartment, mauled by his pets. 

7. ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM

Animal: Elephant

Location: Odessa, Ukraine 

What Happened: Ludmilla Popova took on the task of briefly raising a baby elephant after the newborn's mother rejected it. The elephant stayed with the zookeeper until they could find a new living situation, happily making itself at home, especially in the fridge. While this is a unique and sweet occurence, owning an elephant is highly illegal and extremely dangerous due to the animal's size and strength.

6. OH, BABY

Animal: Lion

Location: Australia 

What Happened: Toddler Maddi Robinson received an unusual cribmate: a baby lion. Her parents work at a local zoo and took in the cub in order to provide the animal with the hand-rearing it needed. While Maddi and the lion make great snuggle buddies now, her parents plan to have the animal out of the house before it reaches a threatening size.  .  

5. COVER HOG

Animal: Alligator

Location: Milwaukee, Wis.

What Happened: A 5-foot crocodile was discovered in a man's bedroom during a search of the owner's house. The pet was removed from the home due to the concern over itl inflicting a lethal bite on its owner or others. The man who was caring for the alligator said the creature was part of the family, and that the animal lived in the bedroom because it had outgrown everywhere else.

4. BEARY COMFORTABLE

Animal: Grizzly Bear

Location: Montana

What Happened: An animal lover to the core, Casey Anderson could not stand by as a bear cub was kept in a steel box at an overpopulated wildlife park. The man rescued the cub and hand-reared the animal, forming a brotherly bond. Anderson created a sanctuary for the cub to grow up in comfortably and safely. The sanctuary is open to visitors, but understanding the strength of grizzly bears, Anderson allows no one but himself direct contact with the animal. 

3. STRIPED SHEETS

Animal: Tiger

Location: Tampa, Fla.

What Happened: The daughter of two animal handlers, a Florida teen is helping her parents out by caring for a young tiger. The girl allows the animal to sleep in bed with her every night, a choice that some animal trainers say is comparable to snoozing with a live grenade. Regardless of the risk, the teen remains unafraid of the tiger.

2. JUST CHILLING

Animal: Polar Bear

Location: Canada

What Happened: A Canadian bear trainer calls one of the world's largest land predators his pet. The man has been raising an 800-pound polar bear since the animal was 6 weeks old, and says he is totally comfortable with it. To prove his point, the trainer often goes swimming with the animal and sticks his head in the bear's mouth.