Prickly Pets

They’re tiny, prickly and oh-so-cute, making them a high demand pet. In the UK, people are mad for hedgehogs as household pets.

While the pocket-sized animals are friendly and easy to care for, some animal conservationists have concerns about the breeding of the hedgehog for public sale. African pygmy hedgehogs are the ones in demand, and there is worry that because they are a bit expensive, Brits may try to simply lure local British hedgehogs indoors and keep them as pets, causing the wild population to dwindle. Also, once the fad dies down, there is concern that the African hedgehogs will be released into the wild, as it is unknown whether they can survive there.

The best bet is to probably ignore pet “trends” and stick with a dog, cat, snake, rodent or bird. All make tremendous companions, and if you head to a shelter, you’ll find your match in no time! [Reuters]