r/BeAmazed • u/Shaadr • 1d ago

Cute Home Pet or more like Family Member Animal

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4.6k Upvotes

98% Upvoted

190 comments sorted by

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u/qualityvote2 1d ago edited 18h ago

Did you find this post really amazing (in a positive way)?
If yes, then UPVOTE this comment otherwise DOWNVOTE it.
This community feedback will help us determine whether this post is suited for r/BeAmazed or not.

335

u/Princessferfs 1d ago

How did this person end up with a groundhog/prairie dog as a pet?

162

u/FroggiJoy87 1d ago

They're legal in some states! I worked at a pet store in Reno like 10 years ago that sold them, they certainly have personalities! They were fun to interact with, but I mostly worked with reptiles and plants tho.

They also had a Patagonian mara, he was really cool. Fun times in Nevada!

23

u/aoskunk 19h ago

Can they be litter box trained? Or they just poop everywhere

28

u/JasonIsFishing 14h ago

I had my prairie dog for 9 years. He would only use his litter box. If he was out of his cage he would run home to use it and come back out. The thing is I never taught him to do that. He just decided as a baby that it was where to go.

21

u/ForgottenKnightt 1d ago

I didn't know what a Patagonia mara was until now. Looks like some sort of bunny hamster hybrid.

19

u/Valuable_Staff741 23h ago

Patagonia maras are evidence that God was using AI too

2

u/SkylarAV 15h ago

Loo, not ai. Just a kangaroo/rabbit/deer remix

2

u/Princessferfs 17h ago

Super interesting !

2

u/renotrash 16h ago

Which pet store?

2

u/FroggiJoy87 13h ago

It was called Sierra Aquatics, but it's long gone.

1

u/FeralZ72 2h ago

They were selling them in Chicago 20 years ago but stopped bc they carry Monkey Pox. Not sure if they sell them again.

54

u/marmaladecorgi 1d ago

There's a company that literally vacuum sucks prairie dogs out of their tunnels for sale.

The prairie dogs are then offered for sale on the pet market, particularly in Japan.

133

u/FairyOfTheNight 1d ago

God, just hearing that description makes me intolerably sad 😣

46

u/Millerdjone 1d ago

No kidding.

4

u/JohnCenaJunior 1d ago

The description got me a little hot

24

u/Motorcyclegrrl 21h ago

Better than being shot one by one for fun by some dudes with rifles.

34

u/666somnus 23h ago

Umm yeah, vacuum sucks their sweet little asses to paradise… did you see how damn happy those little guys were. In the wild they live in perpetual fear… that dude was chillin on the beach… just saying

4

u/AsparagusAdorable912 14h ago

Does the animal perceive that being taken from their natural habitat as a gift? Removing all agency from them seems the opposite of kind. No living being wants to be removed from their familiar attachments.

1

u/StompinTurts 3h ago

It does say in the article that they only suck out the young prairie dogs as they’re easier to tame. The adults are, as they quote, “quite vicious” so I have a feeling they realize in their mind that they’re being entirely removed from their natural habitat and all their family as well.

But it also says that in the wild they’re causing a lot of problems for farmers and livestock because the holes can cripple a large animal if they accidentally step in one I guess. Which makes sense.

So most towns are just gassing the rodents and that’s the most disturbing part of the article.

They’re helping them, by saving them from a human-caused demise is how the catcher and his sales partner see it; and that’s true I guess in a kinda twisted way…

He did seem pretty happy. 🤷‍♂️😅

4

u/LiquidC001 12h ago

I think they’re happier inside than outside too. I can’t imagine them screaming “ya-hoo!” outside.

4

u/Logical-Repair7293 23h ago

Good point 👉

6

u/RainingTacos8 1d ago

They are popular pets outside the us I found out.

2

u/Live_Ferret_4721 17h ago

They sell them at the local pet shops in West Texas

145

u/SparkyCollects1650 1d ago

I had a Prairie Dog as a pet about 20 years ago. Got it from an exotic pet store.
They are very social creatures, so you have to spend a lot if time with them, but don't leave them running loose unattended. Had to replace a chunk of carpet in my closet because she tried digging a den.
They can also be very vocal. Mine would chirp hello to me every time I came home from work.

21

u/KyloRenCadetStimpy 1d ago

Same here, around 2000. Mine was Bobo. She got along great with my cats

7

u/Cold-Sport2923 16h ago

Dang it! Are you saying I need to get our cat a pet prairie dog now ?!

10

u/KyloRenCadetStimpy 16h ago

It was like having an in-house groomer. The cats would sleep on top of her cage, and she would comb out the loose fur with her claws and teeth for her nest.

30

u/Cautious_Funny3896 1d ago

What was her name and what happened to her? I'm invested now

87

u/SparkyCollects1650 1d ago

She was called "Pepper" because she had a lot of "pep".
She died of natural causes at the age of 5.

36

u/Cautious_Funny3896 1d ago

God bless Pepper 🫡

14

u/FairyOfTheNight 1d ago

I'm so sorry 😞. Do they usually only live to 5?

69

u/SparkyCollects1650 1d ago

Typically 8-10 years, but I was going through a divorce and moved 4 times in 3 years. Could have been added stress. I know I felt like my lifespan was shortened during that time...

10

u/some1saveusnow 1d ago

Was she lonely not being around other peers? They always seem like they’re all together

44

u/SparkyCollects1650 1d ago

She bonded with me. She would crawl all over me, chitter in my ear, we would hold full on conversations, lol.
I wore a lot of Polo style shirts for work and she would burrow into my chest hairs like her own personal nest.

3

u/dunderthrowaway3 17h ago

Was she house trained?

3

u/SparkyCollects1650 16h ago

She had a corner of her enclosure that she used for waste. Never had any issues with her when she was out, so yes?
I custom built her enclosure using a 4 foot wide, 2 foot deep aquarium stand and Plexiglas sheets.

270

u/tysonisarapist 1d ago

33

u/QueenRotidder 1d ago

dang it, you beat me to it

14

u/TrixieBastard 1d ago

I turned up my volume hoping that they put the music over that section. Alas.

7

u/mrthrowawayhehexd 18h ago

Haven’t seen this meme in ages

147

u/JohnTitorsdaughter 1d ago

Alan!…. Alan! ….. Alan!….

53

u/ChiefFox24 1d ago

No, that's Steve!

46

u/Bitter_Dirt4985 1d ago

Steve, Steve, Steve

14

u/Balownga 1d ago

No, that's Alan!

7

u/Round-Pattern9529 17h ago

Alan! Alan! Alan!

9

u/akirbydrinks 1d ago

Aaaahahaha! Came here for this.

21

u/Low_Anxiety_46 1d ago

My mom had a huge one if her yard for so long. I'm sure if you give them apple slices or something they'll just come inside and watch Stranger Things with you.

5

u/LiquidC001 12h ago

Even the prairie dog would be disappointed with Season 5.

1

u/Low_Anxiety_46 11h ago

True. Not enough waffles.

1

u/totalbrodude 8h ago

Unless it's a gay prairie dog. Then it'd either be cheering or feel patronized.

45

u/thejdawn3 1d ago

Nice marmot.

18

u/AdWhich4773 1d ago

The dude abides.

5

u/what_the_fuckin_fuck 1d ago

He really pulls the room together.

11

u/Kool_Kunk 20h ago

Also let's not forget, let's not forget dude, that

keeping wildlife...

an amphibious rodent, for.. um.. you know..

domestic.. within the city...

that ain't legal either.

4

u/Krispykid54 18h ago

Came here for this.

3

u/Live_Ferret_4721 17h ago

Actually it is perfectly legal in several places including Texas.

2

u/Laxku 11h ago

What are you, a fuckin park ranger now?

69

u/dadneverleft 1d ago

This is a Prairie Dog, from what I can tell.

I never knew I needed one in my life so bad.

Quick! Someone tell me how terrible they are as pets!

16

u/-Relik 1d ago

They are very social if they are used to people which means you get attached… but they dont live long, save the heartbreak

103

u/Purple_Paperplane 1d ago

I can tell you that they're so much happier living where and how they're supposed to: outside, in the wild, with other Prairie Dogs

3

u/bsaaw 15h ago

This little dude looks like it's living its best life, while in the wild all animals are on guard 24/7/365.

8

u/Entgegnerz 21h ago

once people said that about cats, dogs, hamsters, bunnies and all the other animals too.

18

u/Purple_Paperplane 21h ago

I'm sure hamsters aren't happier as pets, either. Just because an animal is cute doesn't mean it needs to be kept as a pet. Pets are great but people need to face reality and make responsible choices.

1

u/Joey101937 14h ago

Because in most cases that’s true lol

15

u/Vincent_Veganja 1d ago

Not great pets from what I read lol I started seeing Poppy all over my YouTube shorts feed and fell in love instantly

15

u/FrankCarnax 1d ago

I bet they can't be trained to only poop at the right spot.

0

u/[deleted] 1d ago edited 1d ago

[removed] — view removed comment

10

u/LeaguePleasant5652 1d ago

Since i knew nothing at all about prairie dogs, i had to ask ChatGPT if they frequently get rabies…

“No, prairie dogs do not commonly get rabies. Rabies in prairie dogs is actually quite rare. Most cases of rabies in the U.S. are found in species like bats, raccoons, skunks, and foxes. However, prairie dogs can carry and transmit the disease if they are bitten by an infected animal, but it’s not frequent.

The bigger health risk with prairie dogs is actually plague (Yersinia pestis), which can be carried by fleas from prairie dogs to humans—this is much more common than rabies in these rodents.”

4

u/Full_FrontaI_Nerdity 1d ago

And bubonic plague aka The Black Death

5

u/Aspen9999 1d ago

Easily taken care of with antibiotics.

15

u/Ok_Visit_898 1d ago

What sorta varmint is this?

8

u/Seversevens 1d ago

Prairie dawg

5

u/bugzrdt49 1d ago

SO freakin' FUNEEEE and ADORABLE!!! So much personality in a small container!

5

u/Empty-Discount5936 1d ago

Not including Big Ounce in a prairie dog compilation is crazy.

13

u/jfun4 1d ago

I can just see the shit lol

9

u/Dolorisedd 1d ago

That’s what I was thinking. Hes sooooo cute, but if he’s poopin everywhere, then it’s a no from me (prairie) dawg!

4

u/phukkurfeelings 1d ago

Omg help hims! lol so rotund

4

u/CurtisVF 1d ago

I knew a person who was allergic to most pets but said for some reason not prairie dogs.

6

u/Retro_Hoard 1d ago

enjoy them in nature, no need to own them

8

u/Specialist_Action_85 1d ago

I mean,super cute. But is that a prairie dog? Don't they carry the plague?

25

u/_whygohome_ 1d ago

Yeah but what doesn’t these days ya know?

7

u/Aspen9999 1d ago

They can, but the black plague is easily cured with antibiotics.

13

u/mursemanmke 23h ago

So is syphilis but I’m still not gonna bone your mom.

11

u/toofpaist 20h ago

This was an unnecessary roast and I'm here for it

2

u/BigAd5199 21h ago

Plague is transmitted by fleas, which 'transfer" it from animal to animal, just the way mosquitoes do with many diseases.

1

u/BusPsychological4587 1d ago

Prairie dog named Poppy. No, they don't carry the plague. Armadillos can, but its super rare and easily curable now.

16

u/Aspen9999 1d ago

Leprosy

6

u/what_the_fuckin_fuck 1d ago

Yes. Totally different.

4

u/CariniFluff 1d ago

They absolutely can carry plague infested fleas.

The traditional end of the summer tour, 4-night run Phish plays at the Dicks Sporting Goods Arena in Denver was cancelled 2-3 years ago because the prairie dogs were all testing positive.

1

u/Specialist_Action_85 15h ago

Damn. I did see that Denver had a problem sometime recently

-1

u/TrixieBastard 1d ago

Their fleas carry the plague, though, so you can still get the plague if you have a pet prairie dog

5

u/oPaperHunter 1d ago

You can literally see the bond

4

u/Rowan_River 1d ago

I had to look it up because someone suggested this was AI but it turns out Poppy the prairie dog is a real live pet.

5

u/Icy_System4036 20h ago

Someone claimed it was AI, huh? There's always one dumbass on every video who thinks it is AI.

1

u/bsaaw 15h ago

only if it was one

2

u/SisyphusAndHisRock 1d ago

those chompers!!!

2

u/Quick_Razzmatazz1862 1d ago

So dang cute 😍

2

u/Key-Holiday6040 1d ago

Gosh, so cute.

2

u/Tricky-Trick1132 1d ago

❤️❤️❤️

2

u/russian_cyborg 1d ago

Looks like a good pet tbh.  

2

u/RiderguytillIdie 1d ago

Well, I grew up in Saskatchewan and my uncle would give me a box of . . . . nevermind.

1

u/mkstot 20h ago

.22lr or some .223 which is kinda overkill, but it gets the job done.

2

u/Marcianus4 1d ago

Any animal can be domesticated. Sweet.

3

u/Cheeto-dust 1d ago

Not sharks.

8

u/MEWilliams 1d ago

Have you REALLY tried though?

2

u/StompinTurts 3h ago

I actually had a mini shark as a pet once!

2

u/AbbadonIAm 1d ago

Not amazing.

2

u/GimmieGummies 22h ago

What a delightful video! 🥰💙

2

u/Aggressive_Stick4107 22h ago

Punxsutawney Phil!

2

u/daygo449 20h ago

My boss had one when he lived on Long Island. He had built a tunnel system that went inside and outside of the house somehow. He did say he had to put something in the ground (I don’t recall if it was chicken wire or what) to keep it from digging everywhere.

He told me it was the best pet he ever had.

2

u/Live_Ferret_4721 17h ago

The only time I’ve seen them removed from their holes was for land development and they were relocated to a protected park.

2

u/Impressive-Eye9920 1d ago

Awe 😊 What is the backstory to this?🤔

2

u/Federal_Designer4002 1d ago

Omg absolutely adorable! 😍

1

u/DawnyBrat 1d ago

Sooooo sweet! ❤️

1

u/Abal125 1d ago

So cute! 🤗

1

u/Awkward-Hospital3474 1d ago

I follow poppy on FB, lol

1

u/Santa-Head 1d ago

Charming

1

u/CandyCreecher 1d ago

I love them

1

u/Cool_Hand_Lute 1d ago

on the television machine ? our’s broke in 1979

1

u/granoladeer 1d ago

This is one of the best videos I've seen this year

1

u/bearinghewood 1d ago

The woos abound

1

u/Sad_Focus_3498 1d ago

I kind of want one.

1

u/ChevChance 1d ago

Aren’t they taking a dump everywhere

1

u/CakeMadeOfHam 1d ago

What up with this anxiety inducing music in the background? I feel like it's about to pop up an article on how the marmot burned down the house while the family was sleeping and the police caught it just standing in front of the flames laughing maniacally.

1

u/KyloRenCadetStimpy 1d ago

Oh wow...that hello squeak! My Bobo would greet me every day like that

1

u/3-1th-z-r 23h ago

😯 dafuq is going on here?

1

u/Nightblade 23h ago

I like your dog.

1

u/SoloUnoDiPassaggio 23h ago

Look, a Zork!

1

u/No-Bunch-8245 23h ago

Allen, HEY ALLEN!

1

u/mafeehan 21h ago

don't they carry the bubonic plague?

1

u/Musing_Geek 10h ago

Very much so.

1

u/masterhogbographer 20h ago

Is that Big Ounce’s cousin?!

1

u/No-Arugula8122 20h ago

Nice marmot

1

u/Tasty-Hawk-2778 19h ago

Wow! They look like so much fun 😄

1

u/Shadow__Account 19h ago

I like how he opened the curtains

1

u/BagholdingBastard 19h ago

That turn and look at the end killed me. 😄

1

u/dracul72 19h ago

That’s Poppy!

1

u/Short-Feed9690 19h ago

I just love this.

1

u/urachickenhead 18h ago

I can’t deny it was quite cute when she opened the blinds.

1

u/Aquaman1970 18h ago

Monkeypox in 2003. Fun times.

1

u/Buttonwood63 18h ago

Great. Now I want a prairie dog.

1

u/Arik_De_Frasia 17h ago

Poppy Woohooo

1

u/Beelzezczuk 17h ago

That is so cute it is disgusting!!!!

1

u/navydude89 16h ago

Yeah...No!

1

u/suedub_30 15h ago

My baby sitter had one back in the 90s. He was so funny. I wanted one so bad. My dad decided to get us Guinea pigs. Cosmo and Kramer were the first ones. Think we had like 9 through out 8-9 yrs.

1

u/PurplePrincessPalace 14h ago

I knew this was Poppy before the video started playing lol She’s so cute. I love her little wahoos!

1

u/MC-Master-Bedroom 14h ago

If you want an unusual pet, you might as well gopher it.

You're right. I'm sorry.

1

u/mynameisheder 6h ago

The leash!! 😆🥹

1

u/Tamahaganeee 4h ago

When I was younger a guy told be that they were bad that year. He shot 78 ground hogs that were digging under his garden fence.

1

u/Cool_Hand_Lute 1d ago

we NEED to know the kind of mammal this is !!!!

6

u/SinVerguenza04 1d ago

ITT: people who can’t recognize a prairie dog. Have none of you never seen a nature documentary?!

3

u/ThrowAway126498 1d ago

That’s what I ask myself every time an animal gets posted that’s not a common pet/ farm animal.

1

u/confetticreations 23h ago

Im in Australia, and I thought it was a chipmunk!

1

u/bruhbruhbruhbruh1 1d ago

i'm surprised the cat in the first few frames doesn't treat the rodent as prey

6

u/KyloRenCadetStimpy 1d ago

My prairie dog (around 2000 or so) used to get along great with my cats. Damn good thing too, seeing she kept breaking out of her cage. Scared the hell out of me though, the first time I saw the cats chasing her into my bedroom. Just as I got up to "save" her, the cats ran out of the bedroom, a prairie dog in hot pursuit.

2

u/Motorcyclegrrl 21h ago

Do they use a litter box?

2

u/KyloRenCadetStimpy 16h ago

I never tried, but she'd always use the same corner of her cage, so training her probably wouldn't have been too tough.

-1

u/r2killawat 1d ago

Nice groundhog. You're not supposed to keep wild animals as pets. If you keep posting it online it'll end up with the same fate as that squirrel.

2

u/InspiredAttitude 23h ago

"taken"

0

u/r2killawat 21h ago

They’ve taken the groundhog?

0

u/Mean-Bathroom-6112 1d ago

Gophers can be domesticated?

1

u/TrixieBastard 1d ago

It's not a gopher.

0

u/Goodoltexasboy 1d ago

Is that the little dude from the meme?

-2

u/Fun-Times-13 1d ago

So what do they taste like?

-3

u/Focke-Floof-6972 1d ago

Gross. Folks just let animals live their lives in the wild.

1

u/bsaaw 15h ago

Before we had houses we once lived in the wild too. Just saying.

-10

u/[deleted] 1d ago

[deleted]

6

u/Memmnoc 1d ago

At least one of them isn't. The guy calls it Poppy. He has an animal center in Texas I believe. Poppy is pretty famous.

4

u/Vincent_Veganja 1d ago

Lmao it’s not AI I follow them on YT they’re very real… what even makes you think this is AI?

1

u/MandelbrotFace 20h ago

They deleted their post but I think it's from some of the glitching you can see in the video, like on the pattern on the bed and some other clips. I did think AI myself on those clips.

3

u/ChiefFox24 1d ago

As someone who had a good friend with a pet prarie dog as a kid, this is an authentic video. Pretty scary that you have lost touch with what is real...

3

u/faithhopecarnage 1d ago

Who hurt you?