Ownership of a pet is a responsibility that should not be taken lightly.  This responsibility does not change based on the type of pet you may get.  Whether you are looking at a dog, cat, bird, ferret, rabbit, rodent, reptile or amphibian, each have as much right to a healthy life as the next.  Appropriate research should be done on the habits and needs of the animal you would like to get.  Financial costs for daily maintenance, proper living conditions, dietary needs and preventative medical requirements should be factored into the decision to get the pet in the first place.  Your lifestyle habits also need to be weighed against the needs of the pet you wish to get.  Simply “wanting” the pet is not justification alone to getting one.  Many times, the hardest decision to getting a new pet is recognizing that you may not be currently ready to take on this responsibility, be it emotionally or financially, and therefore not getting the pet.  Once you are in a position to embrace all of the responsibilities of pet ownership, you can enjoy your pet fully without the stresses of cost or other factors.