I have been given some very expensive animals including an older pair of very talkative (but quite aggressive and territorial) import Blue Fronts & a an older import Greenwing Macaw from owners who either inherited them, or no longer wanted to deal them. I will say that in NONE of those cases do I believe that turning the animals loose into the wilds of this state, or any other crossed the folks minds. Of the animals I have been given, several of them were going to do things like post the animal free on craigslist, or turn it over free to the local pet shop though.

I know many people offer an animal for "free" and if you say yes, I'll take it, then they try to get you to pay for it. I wonder if the pied ball python incident was such a thing. I have had many folks ask me to come get an animal over the years, or If I would take it, and then when you meet them, they expect you to pay them something for it.

I really think folks "letting animals go" is a significant minority, at least regarding exotics. I think its slightly more common in the case of turtle owners (I have had people tell me about the sliders they have released when they "got too big" who believe they are "doing the right thing" for the animal, and possibly fish owners. I have taken in a few fish who were going to be illegally added to a local waterway by careless people.

I do know I have spoken with some religious folks (Buddhists, I believe) who HAVE purchased LIVE food market fish & frog& turtles, and then released them into the "wild" because they believe that gains them spiritual favor. I informed them that that is illegal, and not really good for animals or the environment, but I am not sure how much impact it made.

I know folks dump dogs & cats for fear the shelter will just put them down anyway.

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