You are quite right Poison-Ivy. (not so much pointing at peb9 as I believe this to be a 'tongue in cheek' statement), but I firmly believe that pet owners should be made to do some sort of suitability test to qualify for an ownership license.
I really hate the puppy/kitten syndrome that so many parent still have at xmas, only to find that these animals all grow past their 'cute' stage and become demanding individuals totally dependent on their owner's ability to look after them properly.