Why do people buy pets when they know nothing about them?

Wait.........selfish? I don't know about you but I am human, I make mistakes, and that is how you learn. I am not born a robot and know everything before I do it, so when you get a pet you explore, you find out how to take care of them. Its like saying why are you having a baby for the first time?

Because to them it is a hobby or a status symbol. I have run into a lot of horses that people spend thousands of dollars on, only to never see unless they bring out friends to check out the horse. Same with people who get large parrots or cocktoos and expect them to just need to be watered or fed, not caring about the physiological part.

I work at a zoo, and we had someone bring in a serval they were keeping as a pet (illegally) and they only fed it chicken for the 3 yrs they had it because red meat was too expensive. Needless to say, when we got it, it had a ton of nutritional problems and we had to work hard trying to get it to eat it's natural diet- red meat.

i've been wondering the same thing. they get a horse or dog just so they can say they have one. most of the questions i see here are just common sense. i appreciate a truly intelligent question. the most rediculous questions are "where do i find a cat/dog?"

shelters are overflowing because people want to put their pets through a breeding (for no good reason unless they're show quality) and the babies end up in a shelter, yet people don't know where to find a pet. there's a pet to match almost every family in almost every circumstance in the shelters.

Impulse. You are in a store and see a cute little kitten or puppy and buy it, or even birds and bunnies and rodents. I agree people shoule research first. I would never buy a puppy or kitten from a pet store. do you know how they get them???? it is quite sad. Maybe not for kittens but for puppies they usually come from puppy mills, and end up with a lot of health problems. We got a bird and it is the first one, but we did a lot of research first, so we knew what we were gettin into.

Bragging rights or they think "We will learn about the other together" it sounds weird but people think that. They also get sop exited about getting a pet that they loose sight (or their mind) of what is really important, adequate care for their animal. I hope I was some help!

You'd think it would be "common sense", wouldn't you, to have a clue about waht you're doing BEFORE you do it?

Unfortunately it seems like too many people don't think about the animal they're getting - all they think about is THEIR want or desire to have an animal, without thinking about what's best for the ANIMAL.

Some folks should just get stuffed toys.

Human nature. And because they can.

For this reason I'd like to see live pets removed out of petshops and anywhere else people can impulse buy.

because of the joy the pet gives. People who are alone and lonely pets give them company, security, and unselfish love especially dogs.

You are right, many people do. The least they can do is return the pets or find a new home for them if they find it is too much for them to handle.

Selfish and could be lonely