| abstract | - A young character adopts an abandoned or orphaned baby wild animal and cares for it as a beloved pet. However, when the animal reaches maturity, the character is advised and/or pressured by the adult characters to drive it away so it can live in the wild on its own. With heartbroken reluctance, the young one complies and is profoundly upset as the animal leaves. If it happens early enough in an episode or arc, this may later result in an Androcles' Lion. The fact that a creature raised in captivity will lack the necessary skills to survive in the wild will very rarely be addressed. Nature is loving and nourishing, right? In a variant ending, the animal comes back on its own, indicating it has no intention of leaving. In the face of this resistance, the adult's resolve is broken and the young character is allowed to keep the animal for good. If they aren't released, the hero may discover their pet has possessive parents. Another variant ending has the animal dying, and we have a Very Special Episode about death. These critters are particularly at risk of Death by Newbery Medal and Shoot the Dog. If the Pet Baby Wild Animal is especially dangerous, the person bringing it home may be a Fluffy Tamer. Compare the Egg McGuffin for certain types of animal. See also Cub Cues Protective Parent for another type of plot that can develop when characters encounter baby wild animals. Examples of Pet Baby Wild Animal include:
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