The holiday season, the perfect time for staying indoors and spending time with our furry friends. Although with cabin fever, the winter season brings around loneliness and boredom. A lot of pets are adopted from shelters during the winter, which on the surface sounds like fantastic news, however, a lot of animals are surrendered or returned later on. At least 25% of animal shelter populations are surrendered by their owners. 

Many cats and dogs are surrendered due to incompatibility with the family’s lifestyle, or animals being destructive to property. Before adopting it is important to consider the environment that the pet will be in, how much time training will take, and if it will be a good fit. 

Having a pet comes with a lot of responsibility, most people are aware that cats and dogs take a lot of effort and time and aren’t a pet that can be impulsively adopted, but the reality is that there isn’t a single pet that should be adopted or purchased without any forethought. Birds, including parrots, are a pet that faces a lot of neglect. A lot of birds such as budgies (parakeets), cockatiels, lovebirds, and parrotlets are purchased as almost a kind of decor, meant to stay in their cages 24/7.  Most of these birds have a lifespan from ten to twenty years, which is a large commitment. These birds are also very intelligent, and without an adequate diet, enough socialization and attention, they can die. Larger birds can be as intelligent as a human toddler, and when left in a cage for hours on end birds can become so emotionally distressed that they pull out feathers. A lot of common household items are also extremely toxic to birds, which can cause them painful, fatal diseases including teflon poisoning. Nonstick pans, candles, perfumes, air fresheners are all examples of items that could harm or kill pet birds. 

Hermit crabs are also a commonly purchased pet, especially for young children, and are thought to be low maintenance. The reality is, most hermit crabs require a lot more care than one may think. Hermit crabs require a lot of temperature and moisture (humidity) maintenance, their habitats should not be cleaned with soap or chemical cleaners, and normal chlorinated tap water can be fatal to them. Hermit crabs cannot breed in captivity, so many are taken directly from the wild which can be a huge shock to their systems. Many hermit crabs have painted shells, and on top of the paint being toxic to them, many are stuck in the shells due to it, meaning that they cannot change shells as they grow. Hermit crabs can live up to thirty years in the wild, while in captivity many do not even surpass a single year. 

There are so many more pets that have similar misconceptions. When considering a new pet, it is essential to do extensive research before committing. There are some low maintenance pets that are good for young kids or a busy person, but one must be completely sure about the decision and take every factor into account before adding a new member to the family, no matter what kind of animal it is.