According to dictionary.com, a pet is any domesticated or tamed animal that is kept as a companion and cared for affectionately. The most popular pets are noted for their loyal or playful characteristics, for their attractive appearance, or for their song. Pets also generally seem to provide their owners with non-trivial health benefits; keeping pets has been shown to help relieve stress. There is now a medically-approved class of "therapy animals," mostly dogs, who are brought to visit confined humans. Walking a dog can provide both the owner and the dog with exercise, fresh air, and social interaction.

A few animals are sufficiently capable of adapting to human interaction to be considered domesticable. Dogs ("man's best friend") are considered to be a classic example of domesticated animals normally suited to being pets. Domestic dogs are quite similar to wolves, but their physical form and behavior are characteristically different, more than mere differences in size, coat, or coloring. Behaviorally speaking, characteristic changes in dogs due to domestication include a prolonged infancy, increased playfulness, and increased barking. Wolves are far less playful and vocal.

Many rodents—such as fancy rats, fancy mice, and Syrian hamsters—are commonly kept as household pets.

Such animals as reptiles are typically considered exotic pets. This may change in the future, as 'exotic' pet ownership is increasing rapidly. Some of these animals, such as green iguanas, large monitor lizards, and large birds, do not make suitable pets for the average person, as they require extensive housing and diet. They can also become quite aggressive if not regularly handled. Exotic mammals are also becoming increasingly more popular as pets. For example, the domesticated hedgehog has been selectively bred to the point where its physical characteristics no longer directly match its wild European and African counterparts. One reads occasional reports in People and other magazines of individuals who have run into legal trouble for keeping large exotic pets, both in rural estates and urban apartments. A few years ago, New York Police Department officers arrested a man who had kept large cats and an alligator in a small Manhattan apartment. Many animal species are difficult to handle and cannot be pets for the general populace. Raptors, such as eagles and falcons, must be handled very carefully to avoid attacks on their handlers; the sport of falconry is to a large extent ways of avoiding such outcomes, and so they are not really pets in the sense meant here. Large cats cannot become pets, as they do not reliably restrain their impulses (although cheetahs are an exception and have been kept as pets in the past). Nor do the large bears, for similar reasons. Small monkeys can be human companions, but they are notoriously unable to defer their curiosity which leads to much destruction. Several of the ferret and otter varieties can be human companions. Raccoons also fit this example. They adapt easily to almost any environment, but resist domestication.

Source: Wikipedia

I'm sure many members do own pet(s) and would like to share their experiences. For those who have no experience in pet rearing, fret not for you can share with us your opinions on pet rearing instead. And also, the reasons for not choosing to rear a pet.

Rabbits are stupid - I have a rabbit.

a) It doesn't make sounds - when dogs make some and cat will meow from time to time, it's a good thing to get some response..rabbit - Rabbit will stare at you stupidily - they also hit the ground with their legs when they are angry..that's all.

B) It doesn't cuddle. Well - he started to cuddle when he got older - but when he was younger he was only about sex...

c) You can't have two. If it's male and female - be prepared for additional costs - if it's male and male - prepare for Mortal Kombat - if it's female and female - remember that female rabbits are the ones which needs more care than male one's.

d) They eat cables.

Ah Kolox, I didn't know that you've reared rabbits before. It does sound like a bad experience though. So far, I've only reared fishes and I wasn't impressed by the fishes. Instead, I had a traumatizing experience.

1) Just like what you've mentioned, they didn't interact with me. I did spend some time looking at them daily but they couldn't be bothered with me.
2) When they were not looking well (eg: swimming weirdly, floating around etc), I was so worried for them and I even asked them what was wrong for I stupidly expected some sort of reply. Some of them did reply by dying.
3) Fishes have no self control for they're the worse gluttons in the whole world. I have to estimate their food intake and feed them appropriately. If I'm to throw in extra, they'll finish them up and swim around with their bloated bellies, which wasn't impressive. Some even died the day after, I suspect that it's from indigestion.
4) Also, fishes like guppies have no idea when to stop reproducing. They multiply in quantities and since I'm not a fish, I couldn't differentiate their gender and separate them. Hence, when I placed them together, there seemed to be more of them in a short time.
5) Fishes also have a tendency to commit suicide by jumping out from their tanks. It happened to me a few times and the fishes wriggled so hard on the ground. I panicked and went on "Red Alert" mode to save my poor fishes.


However, there are also advantages to fish rearing.

1) They don't need much attention since they're happily swimming around doing their own stuff.
2) They also don't disturb you when you're busy for they can't speak and cannot walk up to you and demand something.
3) Small fishes like guppies need not eat daily. They can survive without food for a week or two, tried it before.
4) Fishes are cheap for I can get one for a few cents. Hence, they're cheaper pets for the poor folks.
5) There dead bodies are also easier to manage for when they die, they require no burial. Well, you can bury them but ...

I have a love-hate relationship with my fishes for they have accompanied for years but they all died around the same time - from fish old age :(