Strange Loves – Fatal Attractions

Is there a person who hasn’t visited a zoo, or watched a documentary, and said “Oh, How adorable, how cool, how awesome…I want one!

That would be me! I love giraffes, (and I’m 5’ tall -go figure!! 🙂 ) I love tigers, manatees, lions, leopards, panthers, cheetahs, jaguars, and meerkats.

Would I Really bring one home? Never. That being said- there are those who will- and do.

“Fatal Attractions” is a ‘reality‘ show based on people who do, and pay the ultimate price.

If you have an aversion to ‘reenactments’ or occasionally, actual footage that illustrates encounters by people who have forgotten, discarded or refused the Laws of Nature, this is probably one series you’ll want to avoid.

‘Lions, Tigers and Bears, Oh My’ – is just the beginning.

There is no explaining the animals people ‘adopt’. No holds are barred. If it walks,  slithers, roars, snarls, howls, growls, stings, squeezes, bites, dismembers, or decapitates- it is someone’s pet.

Here in Florida, we have a huge problem with ‘non-native’ species. People buy exotic ‘pets’ and when they outgrow the owners’ ability or capacity to contain, or feed them, they drive to the Everglades or swamp and dump them.

To really understand our problem you can refer to this website:

http://www.bornfreeusa.org/b4a2_exotic_animals_state.php?s=fl#68A-6.002

I don’t know if the heat affects people’s minds, or if they are just unwilling to develop normal relationships, but Floridians- and transplants, seem to feel that if they ‘love’ it, it will ‘love back’ no matter what the ‘nature of the beast’ actually is.

One genius even imported hissing cockroaches: one of the largest species of cockroach, reaching 2–4 inches at maturity. They are from the island of Madagascar off the African coast, where they can be found in rotting logs. They have a lifespan of 5 years in captivity. Anyone who has ever been to Florida knows there is no shortage of cockroaches, however we have politely renamed them ‘Palmetto Bugs’.

Cultures also contribute to animal issues. There is seemingly no limit to types of “religions” and ethnicities who use animals in ‘worship,’ or practices of a more sinister nature. Florida is rife with witch doctors, voodoo practitioners, snake handlers (religious and non-religious), alligator wrestlers- and other odd homosapien/animal beliefs. Carl Hiaasen has several humorous books on the subject. I highly recommend any of them.

Non-native snakes, lizards and monitors are so rampant in the Everglades they are actually affecting native wildlife- even gators! Florida Fish and Wildlife has organized groups of snake wranglers to try to get a grip on the exploding populations. Rarely a week goes by without some creepy story about a non-native animal creating havoc in a neighborhood.

Now, before you shake your head and mutter something about wierd people in Florida, just know We aren’t alone!

Fatal Attractions has chronicled people everywhere who have this skewed outlook. Probably some even live in your state- maybe your neighborhood!

For those of you who refuse to watch television, Animal Planet has conveniently placed the episodes on their website. You can watch your favorites in private, and keep the kids, (and ferrets!) from being exposed to shows they definitely should not see.

Check out: http://animal.discovery.com/videos/fatal-attractions/ (You might not want to watch them alone, however. A strange noise in the house could turn you into a quivering lump of chicken!)