Endangered
Page 28
He was right, of course. We’d skipped eleven of the twelve steps from Building a Healthy Long Term Relationship, or however many steps there are—I hadn’t a clue. Robby and I would be all right without him, I knew that. My problems were the kind with solutions.
I said, “I suppose we could step back and start over, take it slower. If you want to.”
“You bet I do,” he said, finally meeting my eye.
Or we could do it my way.
I closed in on him and undid a few shirt buttons. I tugged on his t-shirt until I could run my hands under it and across the skin of his chest and back. “I know you don’t like to rush,” I murmured. “You leave whenever you want,” and I kissed him with the best kiss I’ve got.
Author’s Afterword
Endangered is a work of fiction, but the pet trade in illegal exotic animals is real. The parrots and tortoises in this mystery find a (relatively) happy ending. If only that were always true in the real world.
The United States is the world’s largest importer of wildlife, with 90% of these animals intended for sale. The majority of this trade is perfectly legal. It generates billions of dollars in profits and provides interesting and delightful pets to many. But my focus here is on the downside. This trade sometimes entails breaking national as well as international laws that are intended to protect wildlife. Aside from exterminating local species through over-collecting, the pet trade in wild animals also spreads diseases among humans (especially salmonella poisoning) and among native animals when the pets escape or are released.
The majority of wild-caught pet animals die prematurely due to the stresses of captivity and poor care. Even captive-bred exotic animals can be unwise choices. After all, they evolved to succeed in a specific habitat that likely bears no resemblance to your living room or back yard.
If you feel you must have an exotic pet, please do the research. Talk to other people who have this kind of animal, use the internet, look for resource books. Don’t rely on the person who will profit from the sale to be fully accurate about the amount of time the animal will require or the expense of caring for it. Consider whether this animal will live for decades. When you can no longer care for it, who will? Do not expect a zoo to accept it. Do not expect to dump it on a rescue organization and walk away guilt-free when, for example, your child leaves home and you tire of the responsibility—these private facilities are over-full and desperate for money to feed their charges. And don’t turn your pet loose—it will die or it will succeed all too well, as with Burmese pythons breeding in the Florida swamps.
If you decide to go ahead, please be as certain as possible that the animal was bred in captivity and not wild-caught. Be thorough in this, especially with reptiles and amphibians. Then do your best to set up a proper habitat and provide the right food and mental stimulation.
Do not kid yourself that you are contributing to conservation by providing a home for a rare animal. Contribute to conservation by discouraging the trade in wild animals, by showing your children the natural world, by moderating your own life style, and by supporting organizations that protect wild habitats from destruction by human activity.
The author’s profits from Endangered will be donated to non-profit organizations dedicated to preserving natural habitats.
Bowling for Rhinos is not fictional. It has my support and deserves yours. Contact your local zoo or go to http://aazkbfr.org/
Further Reading/Sources
The Lizard King, Brian Christy, a fascinating account of a father and son family business suspected of smuggling reptiles and the federal agent who tried to take them down.
The Last Tortoise, Craig B. Stanford, an engrossing introduction to the natural history of tortoises and an out-spoken description of what is happening to them all over the globe.
Stolen World, Jennie Erin Smith, true stories of reckless, unrepentant animal smugglers and the feuds among them.
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