The Best Bets for Pets wallet card provides guidelines on choosing a pet that will fit into your lifestyle. Animals are separated into categories based on their ease of care and appropriateness as pets. These categories reflect considerations of diet, housing, special equipment needs, lifespan, veterinary concerns, owner lifestyle, legal issues, cost, disease, need for social contact and conservation status of the animals listed.

Good Choice: These animals are good pets for most people. Pets such as dogs, cats, and some small birds, fish and reptiles make good pets because they may require little dedicated space, are not notoriously aggressive toward humans, or may not require specialized handling or equipment. Even so, you should always do your homework before acquiring any pet.

Proceed with Caution: There may be more than meets the eye to caring for these animals. Previous experience is a plus for "Proceed with Caution" critters. Although most are not inherently dangerous, many require extra care and commitment. Special housing and unique dietary needs are more common among this group, as are increased financial responsibilities and special equipment needs.

Highly Specialized: Advanced hobbyists or professionals only. These animals are not for your everyday pet owner. Most have special housing, dietary, and veterinary needs, or can be potentially dangerous. Some can become very large in adulthood, while others require special handling. Many of these animals are also increasingly threatened by the illegal pet trade. The animals in this category are often accompanied by legal issues- permits or licenses may be required to keep one of these as pets depending on your area or they may be banned completely. More information on the issue of legality is available in the Legalities section.

Always Avoid: Not suitable as pets. These animals may be very large, extremely dangerous, and often unpredictable. Some are also endangered, and private ownership is often illegal. The best place for these exotics is in the wild or a zoo, not your living room!