Exhibitions such as the one at Play in the Park do not teach children to appreciate animals as many might claim; instead they show children that animals are objects to be bought and displayed for our pleasure with little regard for their true needs.

Exotic animals are often bought on a whim, leaving their caretakers unable to meet the animal’s needs for day-to-day care, which can become overwhelming since the animal is in such an unnatural environment. Sadly, these animals often suffer from neglect, inadequate care and abuse, even if their caretakers have the best of intentions.

Next year, instead of making the trip down to Lansing to observe frightened animals used as props to sell goods, gather your family around the television and watch one of the many fabulous documentaries on public television and other networks that show exotic animals interacting with their natural settings and performing normal behaviors and routines. And instead of patronizing pet stores selling exotic and designer pets that exacerbate our pet overpopulation crisis, check out your local Humane Society and adopt an animal who needs a loving home.

Mitch Goldsmith

social relations and policy sophomore and acting president of Students Promoting Animal Rights, or SPAR