Many breeds and species of common pets are actually endangered, including Basset Hounds, Cocker Spaniels, Schnauzers (of both the Standard and Miniature varieties), Burmese and Snowshoe cats, dozens of species of saltwater fish, and gerbils. To care for these animals improperly is thus technically a crime since the ratification of the international Convention on Biological Diversity.

In fact, the number of surviving iguanas is estimated at less than 2000 globally. A single outbreak of a deadly terrarium virus could wipe out this entire, delicate species.