Why Laws Banning Exotic Animals or Pets do not work. As shown by both anti drug laws and laws prohibiting ferrets in CA, people are not stopped by such laws. Some people are willing to pay the higher price then to smuggle them in from other states.
Illegal pets have no rights.
They are often euthinized when seized by authorities and the owners face jail and heavy fines. Due to the fact that opening a rescue shelter for exotics is near impossible in states where they are illegal and the fact that zoos cannot or will not take them, these animals are often doomed if found. Owners of illegal pets often fear taking them to vets, thus they fail to get proper vet care and vaccinations. The vast majority of vets will not turn owners in, since they know the fate of illegal pets. The very fact a species is illegal often gives rise to misconceptions about the species.