From pet bears and zebras to wolves, dingoes, chimpanzees, and venomous snakes, this dives into the world of people who don’t think a dog is exciting enough.
Trailer for “Predator Pets”
You Can’t Make This Sh!t Up
- In 2008, Randy Miller’s 400-pound pet bear, Rocky, killed Miller’s own cousin during a California photoshoot. Miller still continued working with the bear afterward.
- The series revisits the infamous 2011 Zanesville, Ohio disaster where owner Terry Thompson released more than 50 exotic animals — including lions, tigers, bears, and wolves — before killing himself. Police spent the night shooting nearly all the escaped animals to stop chaos across rural Ohio.
- A Utah rancher casually raises zebras like livestock even though zebra kicks are strong enough to kill a lion.
- One family lives behind 10-foot chain-link fences not to keep intruders out — but to keep their predator pets from getting loose.
Watch “Predator Pets”
You can watch “Predator Pets” on Prime Video.
Ratings:
- My Rating: 92/100
- IMDB Rating: 6.7/10
Release Date: September 2018
Director’s Note: This Australian-produced docuseries takes a surprisingly balanced approach. It doesn’t just scream “these owners are crazy.” Instead, it lets conservationists, trainers, rescuers, and lifelong exotic animal owners explain why they devote their lives to animals most people would run from.
Other Unique Stuff
- One thing that comes up again and again: many owners say they trust dangerous animals more than they trust people.
- The series also shows how expensive exotic pets can be. Some owners spend tens of thousands of dollars every year on food, cages, permits, and vet bills.
- Several animal sanctuaries in the series were created after owners realized too late that their “cute” exotic pets had grown too big, too strong, or too dangerous to keep at home.
Wrap Up:
If you liked the chaos and moral gray areas of “Tiger King” or “Chimp Crazy,” this is absolutely worth watching.
Thanks for reading!
Heather Fenty, Guest Writer, Daily Doc