I'll agree there. I've heard to much about people not treating their exotic's right. Of course you can abuse ANY animal, but sometimes certain exotic animals get a harder deal because they attract certain people who like to get animals for really matcho reasons. They seem to attract the more nasty breed of people.
On the other hand, what do you do if you've rescued an exotic animal. I have chinchillas. I would release them if I could but they won't survive in the british country side so I can only try and take care of them to the best of my ability. I don't see them as pets like Jilli or the rats though. I see them as wild animals so I just have to manage them to the best of my ability.
I've also heard of people adopting parrots who kind of regret it later. The animals become an embarrasment but they just keep them anyway and try to manage them to the best of their ability. It can be a very difficult situation.
Because of the long lives of some of these animals the chances of being passed on to several owners and landing up in some rescue or other is very high.
