I’ve a list longer than my arm, filled with the names and breeds of differing pets living under my roof, at one time or another. My life began in the country, so early years hold memories of horses, dogs, cats, mice, and a few birds.

Parenthood brought forth tanks of fish, hamsters, bunnies, snakes, rats and a number of additional birds. Most parents are familiar with raising and caring for their children’s pets. If the animal didn’t live in our home, it lived in one of my kids friends homes.

I’ve worked for a veterinarian that owned a menagerie of differing rare species, dropped on the clinics doorstep. I sometimes wonder how many ill prepared families offered up their pets to the nearest vet, neighbors barn, field, stream or toilet?

My point here, is this… there is no perfect answer, as to the best and/or worst pets to own! Only three things come to mind, in choosing the right or wrong companion for your family. Can you afford to provide it a healthy and safe environment, will you be prepared to love and care for it throughout its entire lifespan, and does it belong in a home or in the wild? Outside of those things, pet owning experiences are open to interpretation, if you know what I mean.

My personal favorites are, of course, dogs cats and horses… but I also boast a large barnyard of crazy adorable babes that I wouldn’t trade for the world!

Here, have a cookie…