I don't like the fact that pets are like furniture--in the house forever. You can only switch from one type of animal to another. It is sort of weird if your great-grandmother's cat is still walking around your house. I usually buy a new animal when a new couple takes over the house, but the store doesn't always have one, so I end up with a 100 year-old dog. I think they should be more like members of the family, and I don't think you should be forced to have a pet forever just because you bought one once.