Rule of thumb for pet owners: avoid owning pets that can (and WILL) eat your other pets (or you).

Personally, I have always failed to see the appeal of pets that have to stay caged in order to keep either themselves or you safe. If you have to ‘handle’ it instead of ‘pet’ it — (snake, iguana, ferret) it’s not a PET.

Opposite spectrum: parakeets, rats/ferrets, and lets throw fish in there as well — if they will run away or die if they are released from their cage, chances are pretty good you should let them do one or the other and get it over with.

To me, the word ‘pet’ implies a bonding between owner and animal. An animal that might just get bored and decide to kill me? You won’t find me shopping for one any time soon.