Oh so illegal.

The other 49 states? A.O.K.!

Or requires the proper permits: Arizona, California, Georgia, and Pennsylvania - Maine requires permits.
Also:
The 5 Boroughs of New York City
Douglas County, Nebraska.
Windsor, Ontario
Langley, British Columbia
http://www.hedgehogcentral.com/illegal.shtml

Just look at the evil in this bastard's eyes.

Actually I sort of disapprove of exotic pets. Too many people get them and have no clue as to their proper care and the animals suffer for it.

I watch some of those veterinarian shows on National Geographic Wild Channel. Every one of the shows, even the one set in Michigan in a semi rural farming community (Dr. Pol), has had at least one case of an exotic pet brought in that had to be treated for something pretty basic. Malnutrition because the owners didn't check on their dietary requirements, reptiles and amphibians (even a dog) suffering from hypothermia, lack of parasite prevention or routine vaccinations, and more.

Sometimes they do get owners who did their homework but more often it seems to be animals who are in dire need because their owners are ignorant.

I think so many of the unusual pets available today are wonderful, intriguing animals. But I'm sticking to cats which are hard enough to care for in my opinion!

Bird and a Chinchilla.

Our last Chinchilla passed away a few weeks ago, and we picked up another. They are awesome pets. The only downside with them is that it's hard to discern if they are having a health issue. They are tough little SOB's and will not let on that something is wrong, then when it gets bad they will self mutilate.

Chichi The Chinchilla (R.I.P.)


Chewie Chewbacca Monster Truck (about 2 months old)

That is partly why I worry so much about exotics as pets. The ones we had developed problems that we didn't realize until they were deathly ill.

Ours were not originally intended to be pets. A guy my Dad knew raised rabbits for meat. He was sold chinchillas with the plan that he would raise them for their coats - but in un-air conditioned quarters in Florida they did not develop thick enough coats for fur. So my Dad got them from him so we kids could have them as pets. We had no clue how to take care of them - most Americans didn't back in the late 1950s/early 1960s. We didn't know what to feed them, how to house them, what vet care (it ended up being none after one bit our vet and he refused to have it back in his office).

So long as the owners educate themselves and take good care of the exotics I have no problem. But far too few exotic owners are ignorant and that ignorance ends up being a bad end for their pets.

If I remember correctly your ChiChi lived a long life so you obviously love your pets enough to learn how to care for them. But I think back on how my family's ignorance hurt those chinchillas we had and I worry about the larger number of exotics that end up like ours did.

By the way, my sister's chihuahua was named ChiChi so your pet brings back so many memories for me.