AR-News: (IA) Reptiles and Rodents Popular Exotic Pets in Iowa

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http://www.kcrg.com/article.aspx?art_id=68163&cat_id=123

Monday, October 13, 2003, 6:19:39 PM


 Video 
By KCRG-TV9 News Reporter Mike Wagner – TV9 Iowa City Newsroom 
The seizure of an endangered bengal tiger and black bear may help expose an 
exotic animal sales ring. 
Authorities seized both animals last week in the Sioux City area. 
They say the male tiger and female bear had been confined in small spaces and 
were not getting adequate food or water. 
They believe both animals are part of a widespread operation for buying and 
selling exotic animals. 
When we hear about exotic animals we hear of these lions and tigers. 
But often the exotic animals that more people are likely to buy aren't quite 
as wild. 
The director of Iowa City's animal shelter says many people are buying 
reptiles or rodents. 
Misha Goodman tells TV9 they're often for sale in pet stores and don't 
require a special license or permit. 
But she says they do require special knowledge and care she says the man who 
brought this African millipede in had no idea that it secretes strychnine. 
It's not a deadly dose, but it's enough to irritate your skin. 
Goodman says, "People get them from pet shops and they look cute and small 
when they get them. They're not often given enough information by the pet shop 
to take care of the animal in an appropriate way and they haven't researched it 
at all. These animals have very specific needs." 
Goodman says many of the exotic animals that are for sale aren't for foreign 
countries. 
Instead the animals are bred here in the United States. 
The Iowa Department of Public Health urged people to avoid buying or handling 
exotic animals earlier this year. 
The warning came after concerns about the spread of the disease monkey pox. 
It was suspected that an Iowa exotic animal dealer sold giant gambian rats 
that spread the disease in Wisconsin and Illinois. 
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