1 Baby Chicks/rabbits for Easter
It might be surprising to find these on a list of animals that would make terrible pets, but just hear me out. Some people think it's fun to get them for their kids, but these cute babies don't stay little forever and often end up being let go once the novelty wears off. Since they've been separated from their mothers so early, they will not know how to find food and thus survive "in the wild". If you're not willing and able to care for them long-term, don't get them as pets.
Despite the video on my “
I don't think spiders are cute at all, but my aunt has two of them and thinks they're the coolest things in the world. Aside from the fact that your friends might find them creepy as hell, the only way to keep yourself safe from some of them (i.e. scorpions) is to remove their stingers. That's what I've seen done to the ones in pet stores, anyway. I think this is bad for the same reason I wouldn't declaw a cat - you're amputating a part of their body that is necessary to their survival. I've heard similar about rattlers or other poisonous snakes. If someone were to let them go (which is what often happens once the novelty of having one wears off), they can't defend themselves. Besides, why get a possibly-poisonous pet when there are so many other options?
These are great pets for someone willing to take care of them, but they're somewhat delicate and thus need more maintenance than some people can give. For instance, you can't give a chinchilla a bath the way you would a dog or a cat; in fact, this can make them very sick because their fur is so thick that it won't dry and opens them up to chills and fungus. They're very expensive to keep because they can cost over $100 upfront and need accessories that can easily total three times that. Also, finding a vet that can handle exotic pets can be very difficult in some parts of the country. For more information, visit mistywaterwoman.webs.com.
One of my crazy freak cousins tried to trap one of the rats she saw in our basement. You wouldn't think so, but they're actually kind of cute as babies. I don't care how sweet they look, though; they do *not* make good pets. In addition to getting into the trash and chewing everything in sight, they are very prone to rabies. I've had rabies shots before (bit by a dog), and I wouldn't wish that on anyone. The post-exposure shot series is much better than it used to be, but let's just say all the needles put me off of tattoos for a while. Plus, they're expensive as hell; the shots cost us over $1100, which my insurance wouldn't even touch. Even pre-exposure shots like the ones vets get aren't cheap. It's not worth it.
People don't keep these as pets so much as “adopt” the babies that come in their backyards. Even if a bear isn't trying to hurt you, they are strong - National Geographic.com says that grizzly bears can bite through a cast iron skillet! Most don't attack humans unless they feel threatened but they're still wild animals and, by definition, don't make good pets.
“Friends” fans like me probably remember Marcel, Ross's capuchin monkey. He was adorable and funny, but that's not always the case. For one thing, they need a lot of attention. A lot. If they don't get the required social interaction, they can be very destructive. They're also messy; the stories you hear about monkeys getting bored and throwing feces everywhere are true. It's possible they'll attack you when they need to assert dominance, even if they've known you for a long time.