Americans as a culture take as they see fit, in almost everything we do, this action of taking is what our country was ultimately founded on when the Europeans took over land we now call the United States of America. This severely includes exotic animals and, in the most glamorous spotlight, the exotic cat, their private property. Americans value owning exotic animals and associate the magnificent pet with higher social and financial status. Simply a high profile example is in the film The Hangover, released in 2009, towards the beginning of the film, the viewer is introduced to what is later revealed to be Mike Tyson's large Bengal tiger. The Hangover producer hypes up the cat's ownership by pairing the image with a high-profile celebrity like Tyson. Along with attractiveness, the director desensitizes the audience to the dangers of this beautiful yet wild animal through images of the exotic cat wearing a domestic (diamond) collar-leash combination while sitting at Tyson's feet as if he were the Labrador of family. .Despite the charming display and desensitization of owning such an impressive creature, these exotic pets are not your family's adorable Labrador or the peculiar Mr. Whiskers kitty. A tiger in a natural habitat wouldn't cower at your feet and pout at you for a treat. In the wild, a lion would certainly not brush against your legs while meowing delicately for his daily T-bone steak. The level of responsibility of owning an exotic cat is far greater than that of the average adorable domestic pet, which the general public is not prepared for. As stated in Big Cats on a Short Leash in the Christian Science Monitor, "many new owners misjudge the level of care and safety needed... middle of paper... from Chase's book in an attempt to right these horrible wrongs against nature In a simple statement from Chase, a profound message rings true: “Fools (like us) must never be allowed to buy [exotic cats] again. These beautiful animals are born free and deserve to remain so.” , Tanith and Katherine Hessler. "Exotic Animals as Pets." GP Only July-August 2009: 42. Legal Trac. 10 March 2014. Chase, Alston Exotic pets are not suited to domestic life." Enterprise/Salt Lake City 25.9 (1995): 13. Regional Business News. Network. March 4, 2014. Holstrom, Davis. “Big Cats on Short Leashes.” Christian Science Monitor. 03 August 2000: 15. Academic Research Network. 24 February 2014 Donelly, Thomas M., DVM. Lab Animal 33.9(2004): 7. Academic OneFile. 2014