lbaker I'm not sure which part you are feeling concerned about so will address both potential concerns. Anteaters as exotic pets and the fact Stewie is on loan.

Since most people here don't seem to have a problem with Pua I'll start with the loan concept. A breeder loan is a fairly common thing in the animal world but that's not really what happened here. A couple who I knew had gotten Stewie and one of their other dearly loved pets fell ill. After much testing the vet declared it was an allergy to the tamandua's pee. They were looking at getting rid of their newly loved pet to save their long time loved pet.

So I offered to take him for awhile so they could see if the other pet got better with him gone. but they decided during working the contract out that he wouldn't come back. The other pet was always stressed by Steiwie's presence and if he didn't get better his coming back would still make it worse even though not allergic to him. There were also some other things going on that made it better he not come back and they didn't want him to come back then be shipped off again. So if by the end of the loan I can't buy him I hold on to him and help them rehome him one less transfer that way.

I really was just trying to help someone out even though the agreement does benefit Pua and me. I would have hated to be in their position. but they took some consolation in that they felt I would be a great home for him and that they knew they would get regular pictures and updates from me.

As to anteaters as pets I'm going to use my hamster argument. Surely you don't have a problem with people who keep hamsters as pets? Did you know hamsters have only been in captivity about 70yrs and all descended from only 2 wild caught ones sent to a lab? Most exotics like foxes and skunks, which most anti-anteater people would be against as well, have a much longer history of captivity. Even fennec foxes who have been in the US as pets nearly as long as hamsters have a history of being kept as pets in their native lands for much farther back then that.

Most exotic animals fall into the category above and have been bred for many generations in captivity. They will never miss the wild as they never knew it. Stewie was born in captivity. Pua was not. Tamanduas are one of those rare exceptions where some do still come from the wild. I got her knowing I planned to breed her. Every exotic pet and even the domestics started some where.

I don't feel guilty at all for where she came from. I know how they are treated and fare down there in most of their range and it's not good. Pua was a very sick little anteater when I got her. I was concerned she wouldn't make it but we nursed her back to health. She basically came strait from the wild to me. she would not have survived in the wild much longer the condition she was in. So better dead in the wild or alive and thriving with me?

Pua would gladly tell you with me She will come right back to the door of the shop or my room when she's had a walk and feeling done. A nice hike in the woods she will head back to the car or if really tired has crawled up me and into her carry bag. she has no desire for the tuff wild life again. Heck when I got her fresh from the wild it was just a matter of days and she was sleeping in bed with me and it was her idea.

I wouldn't encourage anyone to get an animal from the wild for a pet. there are a ton of laws to be dealt with, it took a full year to get Pua, aside from just the moral aspect. I got her knowing I would breed her and use her for education on her species and the plight of the South American habitats. Again each pet species starts somewhere. Her babies will add to the captive population and give others a choice of getting one domestically bred. I did years of serious research before getting her. Even talked to zoo keepers and vets from across the globe. i was and am very dedicated to giving her the best.

Did you know we'd have no wild bison in America if it weren't for private owners who donated some of theirs for reintroduction? Privately kept exotics are a good thing. Long as, like with any animal, they are kept responsibly. I see no reason to deem something wrong if the animal is happy and healthy and everyone is kept safe(if it were a potentially dangerous creature).

Hamsters keep a 1 mile territory in the wild. no one gives their hamsters that. It's not needed. They like any exotic can be kept happily with enough exercises, enrichment, love and basic necessities. Animals in the wild roam great distances because they need to, not for fun.

Sorry to go off on a speech, ha, but if someone says they haven't made up their mind or otherwise voices concern. I feel I might help them or others just reading better understand and come to a decision.