I have occasionally dealt with people who keep "exotic" pets. I have found them to be, without exception, fucked-up individuals. They are in many ways like the more common "I have a badass dog therefore I am a badass" and "I have a rare and expensive dog therefore I am a superior person" and "I have lots of snakes therefore I am [I dunno, a fuckwit?]" types. It's the same personality type that thinks adopting an odd, off-putting appearance transforms them into the sort of dangerous scary person they think they resemble - like those goobers in Backwards "K"ORN. [Edited to add: That should be "goobers in KO backwards 'R'N".]
I don't care if people keep snakes or lions or alligators or whatever, but given the nature of the animals, I would suggest that if the animal kills anyone, the owner should be per se guilty of 2d Degree Murder; if the animal injures anyone other than the owner, the owner should be per se guilty of Attemted 2d Degree Murder.