Are all pets good for our mental health?

When Isha Singhvi had a bad breakup early this year, the 29-year-old decided to turn to a non-human for companionship. She bought two small red-eared slider turtles, no longer than two inches each, to keep in a ‘turtle aquarium’ she ordered online. Singhvi was certain the experience would be easy and enjoyable. “But within one month I was ready to kill them,” says the young marketing professional from Bengaluru.
Red-eared sliders need more than a small space to live in—at least 20 gallons of swimming space if they are 1 inch long. The online aquarium was woefully inadequate, holding less than 2 gallons. As a result, the turtles began to get irritable and frequently tried to snap at Singhvi’s fingers. “They also defecated so often that at least thrice a day I had to clean the aquarium. And they refused all the expensive turtle food I bought,” adds Singhvi. Eventually, a severe vitamin A deficiency due to the turtles not getting fresh food that is the natural source of the nutrient for them made both of them blind. “It was the most traumatic experience I ever had. Their eyes just burst. I was horrified at the sight,” says Singhvi. The turtles died within 45 days of purchase.
Getting an ‘exotic’ pet is not only easy today but also incredibly appealing. “People feel it is easier than a dog or a cat, so they get lizards, insects, hamsters, rodents, turtles and all sorts of birds without reading up on the level of care needed,” says co-founder of Wildlife SOS and animal conservationist Kartick Satyanarayan. Not only does this lead to owners ending up with an animal that brings them more stress and disappointment, but it is also dangerous for local eco-systems. “Red-eared sliders are among the top invasive species now and they are depleting our Indian turtle population. Incredibly hardy, they are taking over local nesting sites. When people find turtles are difficult to care for or they can’t look after them any longer, they release them in the wild causing an ecological disaster. This is the same for other reptiles, birds and animals that are imported,” adds Satyanarayan.
Though new laws have made it mandatory for pet shops to register all pets that have been imported, animal experts say it needs to be implemented more thoroughly to be effective. “Exotic pet shops have sprung up across the country,” says Satyanarayan. Many lack facilities for the care of imported pets, forcing the traumatised animals to live in small confines with the wrong food and environment. Citizens can report pet shops that they feel haven’t complied with the new rules. If the number of suppliers is brought down, conservationists say, the mental appeal of keeping iguanas, emus, macaws, tarantulas, ferrets and sugar gliders will also be less.
“Animals can help a lot with mental health as excellent companions but they need to be looked after well, and need patience and love just like a human child,” says Satyanarayan. “If one cannot keep an animal at home, it is best to watch them in the wild. That too can bring a lot of mental peace.” Bird watching in national parks, coastal diving and animal safaris are good alternatives to keeping the wrong kind of pet at home for company.
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