When most people hear the word “pet,” they think of dogs, cats, or hamsters. They don’t typically imagine tarantulas, alligators, or tigers.

Yet the exotic pet industry is big, both in Canada and around the world. In 2019, there were some 1.4 million exotic pets in Canada.

And many wonder: are exotic pets a good idea?

Your friendly neighbourhood… tiger?

That question played out recently in a small town near Niagara Falls.