Friday, June 13, 2008

No, it's not just a whim







So I told Melody this week that I want to buy a pet tiger. She wasn't enthusiastic.

No, seriously... this is not as obtuse as you might think. A few facts from Wikipedia:

"The Association of Zoos and Aquariums estimates that up to 12,000 tigers are being kept as private pets in the USA."

"Only nineteen states have banned private ownership of tigers, fifteen require only a license, and sixteen states have no regulations at all."

Doing a little bit of research, it looks like Utah (as one might expect) prohibits private ownership of tigers. However Idaho and Missouri, among other states of interest, only require the proper habitat and care, along with a federal license. And who better to hold such as license than yours truly, with a Bachelor's Degree in Biology? 'Nuff said.

So, with the logistics down, I found an interesting Website: buytigers.com. Sounds reputable. A female, 5-month old tiger is only $13,400. That might be a little pricey, but to make the deal a little sweeter they include an ivory collar, some tiger toys, and the original "Hello Tiger" guide.

I think I'm sold.