Owners Asked Which Pets They'd Never Own Again—No One Prepared for Answers

Newsweek

18 hours ago

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A Reddit user has sparked debate among pet owners on the platform after calling on them to share the species they would never own again, and why.
The Reddit user, known as u/immediate_long165, asked: "What kind of pet would you never own again?" The June 25 post, shared to the r/pets community, quickly captured the interest of pet owners, garnering more than 450 upvotes and prompting hundreds of candid replies from viewers.
While the original poster noted their own experience—"rats mostly because I only had them because of my then partner, we are no longer together"—the discussion rapidly evolved into a broader critique of pet ownership, revealing unexpected regrets and emotional weight.
Pet ownership in the U.S. is widespread and often deeply cherished, but this thread cast a spotlight on the lesser-discussed side: the animals that, while loved, people would not welcome back into their lives.
Topping the list were fish, hamsters, ducks, and tortoises—choices that may seem innocuous yet drew considerable feedback from those who had cared for them. Dogs, the nation's most-popular pet, were also called challenging to raise and grieve.
Despite the different species, one common theme emerged: frustration with the upkeep and complexity of animals that are often mistaken as low maintenance.
Fish care, for instance, was repeatedly cited as being far more delicate and labor-intensive than anticipated.
"Fish … I love fish, but their care with maintaining water quality is beyond me," one viewer said in a highly upvoted comment. "There is so much more that goes into fish than people think, but personally I have very little experience with aquatic pets.
"Cleaning their tanks and doing water changes is just not for me."
Hamsters also drew criticism. While marketed as ideal starter pets for children, they were described by multiple users as difficult to handle and heartbreakingly short-lived.
"Also really having a hard time considering the possibility of ever getting a hamster again," the same viewer said. "Simply because they always seem to have traumatic deaths?"
" … It's heartbreaking how fragile they are despite how much personality they have packed into such a tiny body," another viewer wrote. "I had one as a kid who passed suddenly, and even then, it left a weirdly deep impression.
"They deserve way more credit, and space, than they usually get."
One viewer summed up their experience with fish as taking "all [their] energy and money."
From left: A goldfish in a tank; and a Jack Russell terrier walking in a field.
From left: A goldfish in a tank; and a Jack Russell terrier walking in a field.
Getty Images
Ducks and tortoises, while less commonly owned, were mentioned for similar reasons—mess, care requirements, and life span.
"Ducks. Cute, but nasty," one user said, while another added: "Anything with a water habitat is a pain. We had some Pac-Man frogs. Had to clean every day. And those things will bite and do damage."
"I love him, but if I could go back in time, I'd get another cat instead," a third user said about their red-footed tortoise.
Ferrets, horses and guinea pigs were also labeled challenging to look after.
Some broadened the conversation by bringing up dogs, citing their emotional toll and intense needs. Though not the majority, these comments were among the most-upvoted.
"I think my current dog will be my last," one viewer said. "I love him endlessly, he is my best friend and soulmate and I hope the day when we have to say goodbye is a long, long time away yet, but my health is deteriorating and my support circle becoming ever smaller and I don't think I'm going to have the energy or means to safely and reliably care for another one after him."
Another described the heartbreak of losing a high-maintenance dog as something they couldn't bear to repeat: "I'll never have the same breed of dog twice … I get so devastated when I lose them and then when time comes to find my new best friend, I get one with zero physical characteristics of the last so I don't get stuck comparing them to my lost dog or holding them to that dog's standard."
"I was in this situation when I lost my soul dog," a different user shared. "We ended up getting the same breed and almost the same color too … The lines did get blurred between the past and current dog as they do have many similarities which initially made me upset because it felt like the memories of my past dog were fading … But in reality them being so similar helped me cope with the loss."
Despite the lighthearted framing of the post, many comments conveyed genuine sadness or guilt—often about animals taken on without fully understanding the commitment involved.
Guy Sandelowsky, veterinarian and cofounder of Omni Pet, told Newsweek about the very real challenges associated with dog ownership that many animal lovers overlook.
"These challenges stem from the fact that dogs have quite a long list of physical and emotional needs, that we, as their owners, are almost entirely responsible for providing," Sandelowsky said. "They need feeding, exercising, socializing, training, gaming, company, veterinary care.
"All of which can be a struggle to fit in, on top of other family, work and travel commitments that many people face."
The veterinarian added that, for most owners the "biggest challenge" is their relatively short life spans, which average just 10 to 12 years; only a fraction of a human's typical life span.
"As a vet, I have sadly witnessed the pain people endure all too often, when they are forced to say goodbye to their beloved dog, sooner than they are ready for," Sandelowsky said.
Newsweek reached out to @immediate_long165 for more information via Reddit.
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