Getting your kid a ‘starter pet’? Taking care of it is not as easy as it seems

A major study has found that the main cause of death for captive hamsters is stress caused by dissatisfaction with their living conditions. Photo: TNS

After my German Shepherd mix passed away, I wasn’t ready to adopt another dog. But my single-girl condo felt empty.

So when I got an e-mail about two guinea pigs who needed a home, I thought, “Perfect! How hard could it be?”