• My advice to people considering buying a pet ...small animals.
• First and foremost. think about if you have the time, patience, money and space
• find someone who has the animal you are thinkin of having. handle them and see if they are right for you.
• do your research on the animal you are wanting! it isnt fair on the animal if you do not know what they needs, health problems that can occure etc. 
• buy a suitable cage, buy the biggest you can find/afford and with plenty of platforms. it is NOT fair to keep something like a rat ina a cage thats only suitable for a couple of mice or hamsters. (like my last rescues came in.)
• buy the PROPER food for the animal!!! research what they can or cannot eat. do not buy pellet food! each animal has its own tastes like each of us humans do. to force them to eat something like "complete food pellets " is cruel and they dont benefit from it. you will get wastage but thier tastes change the older they get.
• your new pet will need handling alot to get them tame. most pets shops dont handle the animals, the hard work will NOT be done for you! get everyone in the household to handle them
• Most of all...my major peeve. DO NOT BUY ANANIMAL BECAUSE ITS THE LATEST FASHION DUE TO A FILM/CELEBRITY ETC. Kids folow these fads and then get bored. which is not fair on the animal! its stupid fads like that, that put a strain on people like me,raspca and other rescue places. THINK BEFORE YOU BUY!!!!!!!