Or is there really nothing suitable for our families need?
DD10 and 5 would love a pet. We have a family dog (an elderly lurcher) but they as desperate for pet guinea pigs.
We are doing to visit a rescue next week but already having done so research, it's not going to work. The space they'd need would take over our smallish house and finding a suitable location for them that wouldn't disrupt everyone's sleep is impossible (I've kept guinea pigs before so I know how noisy they can be).
Rabbits are a no go due to our garden set up (astro turf) and the fact that they don't really make great pets (I've also kept rabbits over the years).
Cats are a no because of the dog, my hubby's hatred of cats and the fact that I don't really want my furniture destroyed.
Hamsters - meh, have kept those too and they weren't great pets and don't last.
Rats sound good but smelly, same issue with space and probably need more interaction than we can guarantee what with work/school/clubs etc
Fish - also meh.
Is there anything I'm missing that might offer a good solution? I believe gerbils and chinchillas pose the same issue as hamsters and guinea pigs sadly.