Eight unique pets for students

By Sam Tapp

Discovering a way to be unique in Toronto can be difficult at times. But one way to assert yourself as unique is to invest in a rare pet, one that you can rest assure you won’t find commonly throughout the city.

1) Are you looking for a social companion? One that is known for its intelligence and cleanliness? If so, a pet pig may be the perfect match for you. Having a pet pig is not only a rarity in Toronto, but is also completely legal. They are known for their sensitivity, human-like intelligence, and how easily they adapt to living with humans.  Adopting a pet pig is a simple task, as sites like Kijiji feature ads to sell all types of pigs within the Toronto region.

It may not be kosher, but it sure is cute. Photo courtesy stock.xchng

2) If a pet pig is too intimidating for a student to invest in, another option is the smaller skinny pig. The almost hairless guinea pig is good for the allergy-prone student. Although the skinny pig can seem like a strange little creature because of its appearance, it is known to be a playful and social pet.

Skinny pig, skinny pig, does whatever a skinny pig does. Photo by Joanna Gigliotti

3) A third option for pet-seeking students is a chinchilla. The tiny animal, which only grows to be around two pounds, has the same energetic qualities as a squirrel. Chinchillas are very low-maintenance pets as they are extremely quiet and tend to take care of themselves. This pet is a good idea for a student who doesn’t have an abundance of extra time, but is still is searching for companionship.

Goodness gracious that’s a cute animal. Photo courtesy stock.xchng

4) If a student is looking for more of a challenge, a hedgehog is the way to go. While most domesticated animals are fairly easy to form a relationship with, it comes as a more difficult task to build trust with a hedgehog. Once a relationship is created between the two, a pet hedgehog turns into a friendly and reliable pet.

Sonic the Hedgehog looks nothing like this. Photo courtesy stock.xchng

5) For the more daring student, a ball python may be a good idea. This African python generally grows to be about three to four feet. This makes it legal to have as a pet in Toronto. The snake is known for its good nature and gentle behaviour towards humans.

The snake is a majestic creature that crawls up your arm. Photo courtesy stock.xchng

6)  Another fun pet a student should consider is a ferret. These extremely active pets are perfect for a student who wants to have an engaging, energetic pet, but not the size of a dog. Growing to only around two to four pounds, ferrets are agreeable pets that quickly adapt to a new environment and build strong relationships with their owner. If you’re searching for an animal that will be playful and happy with a group of people, a ferret is a good option.

Look at that. Just adorable. Photo courtesy stock.xchng

7) What were once considered to be dirty, overpopulated animals in local parks are now being considered part of the family as people start to adopt pigeons as domesticated pets. Owners of pigeons say it’s a very simple pet to train.

Don’t snatch one of these off Gould Street. Photo courtesy stock.xchng

8) If you’re really looking to ensure that none of your family or friends will have the same pet as you, you have found your match with a sugar glider. The tiny squirrel-like creature requires a fair amount of attention. This pet is perfect for a student with a fair amount of free time and the ability to play with a pet constantly.

This is a sugar glider, apparently. Photo courtesy think4photop at FreeDigitalPhotos.net