In 2007, over 35 million households owned dogs and/or cats (United States). However, there are some people who find owning such animals trivial and often opt for an exotic pet, which can be easily purchased via the Internet. Most animals not native to an area are considered exotic. In the United States, popular forms of exotic pets include big cats, primates, and several reptiles. While these pets are adorable when young, they often require special care that is expensive and time-consuming. As exotic animals mature, they pose a variety of health and safety problems for society, from attacks and diseases to the destruction of an area's natural ecosystem. Most exotic owners eventually tire of their pet, at which time the animal is surrendered to a rescue organization, released into the wild, or left alone in an enclosure until it meets its untimely death. Solutions to the problem are complex, however, education and stricter legislation could save many exotic animals from a life of captivity and people from suffering from the brutal attacks these animals can inflict. It is difficult to estimate how many exotic animal attacks occur in the United States. every year because people don't always report the attacks. However, there have been many attacks too serious to ignore, such as the attack on Roy Horn, famous for his act at the Siegfried and Roy Las Vegas Casino. Horn was attacked by a tiger, in front of 1,500 tourists, in 2003, leaving him seriously injured. Injuries suffered during the attack included bites to the arm and neck, as well as severe blood loss; Horn also suffered a stroke following the attack (MSNBC). He had raised the seven-year-old tiger since he was a cub and performed with him for over six years. Immediately......middle of paper......011. .Center for Disease Control. Wild primate populations in emerging infectious diseases. , Network. April 5, 2011. "The invasion of the giant pythons." PBS: PBS, Web. March 02, 2011. "Killer Animals." Good morning America. ABC, 08/21/2010. Network. February 13, 2011.Mott, Matteo. “The Dangers of Keeping Monkeys as Pets.” National Geographic Stephenson, Zachary. Telephone interview by McCormick, Bev. February 13, 2011."US Property and Market Statistics." American Veterinarian Medical Association May 2007: n. page Network. March 2, 2011. .Virginia Department of Health. Non-human primates. 2010. Network. February 13, 2011."Why the Tiger Attacked Roy Horn." Today's show. MSNBC, October 10, 2004. Television. February 13, 2011. “Wild Animal Sanctuary.” wildanimalsanctuary.com, n.d. Network. February 13 2011