Cross Breeds

How come Australians have cats and dogs as pets when several native animals seem to make perfect pets?

I understand that like Americans Aussies have rigid rules to decide wild vs. domestic. To prevent marsupials from going extinct it's time to accept that "Wild Australia" is gone and replaced the "domestic world of man." Believing "wild animals" belong in the "wild" is oxymoronic. There are very few places here UNtouched by man. If the Marsupials are to survive, Australians need to redefine a "domestic" animal as more than a dog or cat. If you look you'll find endless examples of extremely ez and successful domestication. Sugar Gliders are a common pet in the Southern US. Wombats seem to LOVE living in homes. Digging big holes doesn't make them dangerous or wild. Give them food, shelter and comfort and most problems with "wild animals" cease to exist. The irony is we ignore the "dangers" of having dogs and cats. People are injured sometimes killed by them, but they're not "wild" so it's ok? Can't we give the pouchies the same consideration and live w/our cats n dogs.

Public Comments

1. Some things like that are true such as koalas and kukubarrows but would you want your child or baby messing with a really poisonous snake since Australia is home to the seven of ten most dangerous snakes in the world? Just because I like a cats doesn't make me want a cougar to cuddle. Its just too dangerous to risk human life for somebody to say I conquered this animal and it is domesticated. Its just better to appreciate animals in their natural habitat instead of controlling every animal.