If your child has ever brought home an animal, either a wild-caught critter or a stray that followed them home, you have probably been asked this question. Very likely you struggle to find the right answer, or excuse, but did you know there is a legal answer?
Legally, in most areas, you cannot keep any wild caught animal, or stray. At least, that is, without following some guidelines. Of course, laws vary from country to country, and area to area, so a person would be best to find out what laws cover their area.
Wild-Caught Animals: In most areas the law states that wild animals cannot be kept for more than 24 hours; this usually applies to things like insects and fish that children collect. It does not apply to catching bears and keeping them as pets for 24 hours. Of course it is highly unlikely that a child is going to bring home a bear, this point is only added to clarify things. Large animals generally cannot be intentionally caught without a special license. If one happens to wander on to your property and is making a pest of itself a person should call the proper Fish and Wildlife authorities.
The problems are many when animals are removed from their natural habitats. Many do not survive. Fish especially succumb early, often being kept in children’s buckets, they suffocate without oxygen in the still water, or overheat as the water in the bucket warms quickly. All for what? So a child can have a pet for a few hours. These fish, often young fry, are removed forever from the ecosystem. They will not be food for larger fish, nor will they be able to reproduce. We all know that fish stocks are on the decline. Although your child may only be responsible for removing (and killing) a few fish, how many other people’s children are doing the same?
Tadpoles and frogs are often collected by kids, who then beg mom to allow them to be kept as pets. Say no! Again the law often applies that these too cannot be kept for more than 24 hours, and really shouldn’t be kept even that long. It’s stressful for them. Also any chemicals on people’s hands can be absorbed by their skin, so they shouldn’t be handled. Or think of it this way, some reptiles and more so, amphibians, can spread salmonella to your child. These animals belong in the wild. Teach your children to look, but don’t touch, and to keep wild animals where they want to be, in the wild.
Injured Wildlife
Injured wildlife should not be handled. Depending on the species they could be dangerous or diseased. Some injured wildlife may recover, such as birds who have hit windows. Often they just need to rest quietly. A large box placed over a resting bird will keep it safe from cats. Other animals will need the attention of an expert. If you do not know who is the expert for wildlife rehabilitation in your area, call a veterinarian or local animal shelter. Children are quick to try to bring home injured animals they find. Many will not survive, simply because the children picked them up rough and caused them further injury or distress. Teach your children that if they find a wild animal who is injured to show it to an adult, and leave the animal alone.
Abandoned Wildlife Young
If your child has brought home a baby animal (usually a rabbit) claiming they found it abandoned, they may, or may not, be telling the truth. For one thing, very few mother animals abandon their young, most leave them and will return later. Also, it is a myth that mother animals always abandon their young if it has human scent, so the youngster should be returned immediately, and checked to see that the mother has returned for it. Again, teach your children that it is not okay to remove a young animal from its safe place; instead alert an adult if they are concerned. An exception would be if the mother was known to be dead, as a case of road kill, again an expert in animal rehabilitation should be contacted because it is illegal to keep any wild animal for more than 24 hours in most areas, without permits to do so. Most people would try to feed an orphaned animal cows milk, which in some cases can make the situation worse.
Bringing Home Strays
Most cities have laws stating that the finder of a pet must report finding it and cannot keep it outright. Doing so can have you charged with theft should the owner of the animal report it stolen. You are best to find out who handles the stray pets in your town or area. Call them and file a “FOUND PET” report, thus covering you should somebody report their pet missing. In fact, if you have no intention of keeping the pet, you should take it to the shelter so that its owner may recover it. Found pets can be checked at a shelter or veterinarian (generally for free) to see if they have a microchip or other identification such as a tattoo.
If you do wish to keep the pet, be sure to wait a required period of time to ensure no owner is coming forward to claim it. In many cases, as a member of the public, you will be required to wait 2 weeks, however I suggest waiting 3. After that time you should take the pet to a veterinarian for a health check and vaccination.
Children should be taught that just because they find a pet does not mean they can keep it. They need to be told that somebody has lost the pet and probably is looking for it. If you want a pet there are plenty of legal ways of acquiring them and children should be taught that stealing is wrong.
