In my question about cuddling koalas, some people mentioned that they were concerned about diseases and parasites. Koalas, for example, all have chlamydia and urinate constantly. Even the most well-groomed pet dog can pick up a flea or a tick.
Outside the home, piggies are notorious for scabies. In fact, any livestock farmer is constantly monitoring for parasite outbreaks. Wild animals, well, they're riddled with them. Thankfully, most are host specific, so they won't live on you for long.
Now I'll hug most things that'll let me. But a lot of people are scared of catching stuff, so where do you stand?
I petted a young raccoon a few years ago when it and it's sibling popped their heads out of a large pot on our porch that had a canna lily growing in it. It was at night. They started climbing up the railing of our porch and then up the post that supports the roof. While they were occupied, I petted one. Then I shooed them off of the post because I didn't want them on our roof. I don't know where mama was.
I grasped a young ground squirrel that was hung up in a wire fence. I carefully freed it. Thankfully it didn't bite me. It actually seemed grateful.
Aside from snakes, lizards and amphibians, those are the only wild animal I ever handled.
I've never had the opportunity to pet any zoo animals, but I would. I'm not much worried about germs and bugs if the zoo keepers said it was okay.
I petted tame sika deer at a deer park in the 1970s. I petted an Asian elephant many years ago. I touched a wart hog and a giraffe at a wild animal park a few years ago.
I've petted donkeys, horses, cows and goats. I've handled chickens and other birds. Of course I've petted lots of dogs and cats, pet rabbits, and even pet ferrets and other rodents.
My wife and I recently adopted a couple of kittens. A mama cat and three kittens started hanging around our porch. We started feeding them. Eventually, the mama cat and then two kittens allowed us to pet them. One kitten was very friendly and would stay on our porch when the others left. So we brought him in, bathed him, checked him for flees and ticks. The same thing happened a couple weeks later with one of the other kitties, a girl. We also gave them anti-parasite medication and put anti-flee drops on the napes of their necks to make sure our house didn't get infested with flees. We have appointments to get them spayed and neutered. We now keep them indoors and they turned out to be wonderful kitties. They even get along with our 20 lb, 6 year old, super fluffy, part Maine coon boy. The mama and the third kitty don't hang around anymore. We've seen them going to the next door neighbor's house several hundred yards away up the hill. The properties are large in the rural area where we live.
Used to be an Animal Services Officer for the City of Dallas. Gives you a unique opportunity ro deal with some unique life forms. I also carry a laminated card in my wallet to this day with a long list of zoonautic diseases for doctors to consider if I am founnd unresponsive. I general I'm happy to interact with any critter I'm able to, always curious as to the texture of the fur or just the general feel bird, reptile or mammal. Most everything will urinate or defecate as you're saving their little asses, some have chemical weapons and some are just not having it. Aside from the vast array of dogs and cats I like the reptiles, owls and hawks are cool once you hood them, but the favorites are definitely baby opossums, baby raccoons, and tarantulas. Guaranteed to find the front desk girls playing with 'em when you impound those.
I like fluffy home grown animals, especially those who don't smell because they are hunters and smell is a disadvantage in nature. Most farm animals don't like body contact and I don't have much desire to pet them either. For wild animals we are the worst monster on this planet and even if we give them food they prefer to keep distance. Maybe Koalas and other slow animals can't flee fast enough but they aren't especially eager to have body contact with most dangerous predators on this planet, us.
I've no problem with any animal as long as not poisonous. Nature is as nature is and us humans think we are so much better when we not. And too much clean freaks which is why super bacteria keeps adapting and getting stronger.
There is a zoo that lets you hold a koala. I did it back in 2010. They are more nocturnal so trying to sleep while 20 students line up for a photo. So I wouldn't do it today.
Ultimately let the animals do their own thing. If you can get a good photo with them on their terms that's a good deal.
There was a young crocodile with it's mouth taped shut. So the argument is let it be around people so when it's a giant it sees the staff as friendly. so feeding and medical care is safer for the crocodile and staff. I'd agree with that but it is push the limits of what's good for the animals well being vs petting my own ego.
I'm not that worried about it. I've had weird experiences with animals the last few years. I was cutting weeds with a hoe and there were two lizards just sunning themselves right where I needed to get into and chop the weeds. I couldn't get them to move I had to pick them up and move them. I've never experienced that in my life till then. They were wild but they just let me pick them up. Later on a pack rat did it too. I feel like I'm invisible to these animals or something at times. They just don't seem to care that I'm there.
It seems logic to me to cuddle animals like cats and dogs if we're familiar with the particular individuals. It's part of a natural way to keep a bond within a group, even among different species like humans, horses, dogs, etc. Even the individualistic cat does appreciate some cuddling for similar reasons. Otherwise, with animals not familiar to us some caution is required.
Concerning particular deseases, that's indeed possible, but part of life. Bugs can be treated, and when living in the same place, there's automatically an exchange of bacteria, leading in most cases to a form of immunity.
Last but not least: when humans hug each other, the same kind of risks do exist ;0)
Some animals feel happier when they are left alone. But if one shows a (friendly and social?) interest in me, I will not refuse them.
My own dogs regularly bring home ticks. Well - I remove them and kill them (... the ticks, mind you). I am aware of a number of diseases, but it does not scare me off. Direct body contact bonds and builds trust - and the fur of my 'own' ones is as fluffy as that of a teddy bear... WHO would not like this?
However, there are animals that I'd not want to touch - these are the ones who have an interest to eat me.
We traveled and camped together a lot. We often slept in contact when it was cold as wolf packs sometimes do. I thought nothing of it one way or the other. I have several Old Codger stories to tell about him. Especially in the Cherokee reservation. Please. No smart ass remarks. He was a good friend.
@purplepoppy I hug, cuddle, kiss-on just about any fur baby there is on the planet, IF they let me. Once in a shopping mall, I sat down with a couple who had a saint Bernard, at their table. I sat on the floor, and hugged, squeezed him and he finally rolled over into my lap! True story
11.7K opinions shared on Society & Politics topic.
Doesn't bother me. I've dealt with everything from dogs to wild animals I've shot. I've had blood, piss, shit and god knows what else on me from them. I've physically felt parasitic worms on a bear carcass. I've eaten raw deer liver.
Beggars can’t be choosers. I’m probably going to die from being mauled by a bear if i ever see one in the wild. I really don’t think i could stop myself from going in for cuddle.
Girl's Behavior 
Guy's Behavior 
Flirting 
Dating 
Relationships 
Fashion & Beauty 
Health & Fitness 
Marriage & Weddings 
Shopping & Gifts 
Technology & Internet 
Break Up & Divorce 
Education & Career 
Entertainment & Arts 
Family & Friends 
Food & Beverage 
Hobbies & Leisure 
Other 
Religion & Spirituality 
Society & Politics 
Sports 
Travel 
Trending & News 
