Top 6 Strangest Animals That People Keep as Pets

Whether you’re a dog owner or you have a pet gerbil, you know that animals represent a special member of your family, each offering its own unique personality. This week we wanted to share some of the more surprising animals that people have adopted as pets. Here are some of our favorites!

1. Hippo! Tonie and Shirley Joubert found a tired and weak baby hippopotamus along the banks of a river. They rescued her, named her Jessica, and created a website dedicated to her and her happy hippo ways!
2. Capybara! While these animals are technically rodents and do look very similar to a guinea pig, they can actually weigh around 140 pounds! Check out @crazy_codys_adventures on Instagram to keep up Cody and his pet capybara JoeJoe!
3. Raccoon! CBS ran a story about Pumpkin the Racoon, who was rescued as a baby when her mother abandoned her. She now lives with Rosie Kemp and her family and has the cutest Instagram that documents her daily adventures with her two puppy siblings!
4. Chimpanzee! These little guys are so cute and cuddly, but they're not traditionally considered household pets. You may have heard of Bubbles, Michael Jackson’s chimp. For a while, Bubbles even traveled with the king of pop on tour. He now lives at a Florida sanctuary for primates.
5. Buffalo! Ronnie and Sherron Bridges have had their buffalo, appropriately named “Wild Thing,” since he was just a small calf, according to the NY Daily News. He is treated like a member of the family and is even allowed in their house, just like any other pet!
6. Alligator! Nope, we’re not joking. ABC News ran a story a few years ago about a Florida woman named Mary Thorn who adopted a young alligator as a pet. He was given the name Rambo and grew up living with the woman and her dogs, wearing clothes and riding ATVs!

While we in NO way recommend adopting a wild animal as a pet, we can’t deny there is a special love that we all feel for our animal friends. If you know someone who loves their pet like family, check out the GiftWorksPlus website for pet-themed gift frames that will make for a thoughtful and personalized gift! Each item can be customized with a pet’s name, owner’s name, or a cute quote. Check them out today!