"Why do people have dangerous animals as pets?"

Well... this is what I heard a boy in the library say, while reading a book.

It is a children's non-fiction book, which is about when animals attack people. (actually it is a series of books)

I have also read a bit from it.

When I first saw the books, I was thinking all of the stories were going to be like: "Steve went outside for a walk and then this polar bear attacked him" (That is a made up example)

But there were a lot that was more like "Steve thought keeping a polar bear as a pet was a good idea, but it wasn't." (Another made up example)

In one of the books there is also that one, I think most people have heard of, about the chimpanzee who attacked it's owner's friend and ripped her face off.

At first I was thinking the reason behind why some people have wild animals as a pet is because they think it makes them "cool". But I don't think the owner of the chimpanzee did it because they thought it was "cool".

I think another reason behind having wild animals as pets is that some think they would be able to take care of one.

It is silly to keep some wild animals as a pet, not because they can be dangerous, but also because other reasons.

Like tigers are dangerous, but they are also an endangered species.

Animals like these belong in the wild and not your living room.

But the book did not only have "wild" animals attacking.

There was also this about a woman, who was killed by her two pitbulls.

Well... there are some dangerous dog breeds, and some breeds (including pitbulls) are illegal to have as pets in some countries.

I do like cats, but I know that domestic cats can be dangerous sometimes.

I have once heard that a cat killed an owner by scratching his throat (the pulse part) while he was asleep. (but I'm not even sure how true that story is)

Well... cats bite and scratch, and you can get infections from them.

Even though I don't think there is any cat breed that is illegal.

Well... thoughts?