Has anyone seen a meerkat being taken for a walk on a lead?
Am I mad by asking this I hear you wondering to yourself?
Well in fact I have seen just that, I think it belongs to some people in the houses opposite to where I work. I was setting off home from my office one day when I saw the meerkat on the grass verge just outside my office. I had to look again to make sure I was not seeing things. There was a young lad stood with it, and the meerkat was on a lead. My colleagues have also seen this so I'm not just seeing things, and they have also seen a wallaby on a lead. I suspect that the lad just stands there showing off his exotic creatures. Well in my opinion I think it is sad that some people have to acquire such animals for their enjoyment. I know that meerkats are very social creatures, they live in burrows together as one big family and there is a strong social bond between them. So to take a meerkat out of that situation and have it on a lead is cruel and selfish.
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ChimesofFreedom
- Wednesday, Jul. 22, 2009 @ 08:02:27 pm
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astronut
- Wednesday, Jul. 22, 2009 @ 10:57:29 pm
Yes, a meerkat, no doubt about it, my other colleagues have seen it too, and I have seen meerkats at other (legitimate) places too, so I know one when I see one. Don't forget the Compare the Market .com ad too!
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ChimesofFreedom
- Wednesday, Jul. 22, 2009 @ 11:50:32 pm
It all started with David Attenborough's documentary. He cannot have predicted, and I'm sure would certainly not condone the meerkat as a domestic pet. I'm reminded of nothing as much as Robert Oppenheimer's paraphrasing of the Greek text in relation to his massive contribution to the development of the bomb when he said "I am become death".
Sad beyond words. -
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astronut
- Thursday, Jul. 23, 2009 @ 09:11:18 pm
I'm not sure that the atom bomb is as serious as having a pet meerkat, but I see your point that it's all part of the tapestry of human behaviour.
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Are you absolutely sure that it is a meerkat? I have no special knowledge but I would be most surprised if they are available on the open market as pets - for all of the natural behaviour reasons you give yourself.
Could you have seen a ferret perhaps?
I'm with you 100% regarding the selfishness of many "trophy" pet owners. Why we continue to tolerate such trade in this day and age baffles and offends me.