When people usually get a new pet it's safe to say many assume it's usually a cat or a dog. Sunday I learned that here in South Dakota that may not always be the case.

     Rhonda Fulkerson says, "A lot of people come out here and they talk about their dogs like they do their kids and that's kind of the feel you get is a dog is part of your family it's just about as important as people's children"Like the saying goes a dog is a man's best friend. But here in South Dakota it can also mean the same for lizards hedge hogs or even sugar gliders.

     The American Vet Association released its annual ownership report which shows South Dakota as one of the top three states in the country for pet ownership. Fulkerson says, "That doesn't surprise me at all. Seems like everybody has some sort of pet at home."

     Here in the Mount Rushmore state, over 65 percent of households own a pet. But to much of a surprise a lot of them aren't dogs. Sasha Kelly Store Owner says, "I definitely see a rise in the more unique pets people are always looking for something a little different so that they stand out a little bit more from the crowd."

     Crazy Critters Owner Sasha Kelly wasn't too shocked to hear that South Dakota did not top the list for dog ownership. One of her highest selling animals is not your everyday kind of pet. Kelly says, "I think I probably send home sugar gliders as much as I do puppies."

     The sugar glider is an exotic animal resembling a flying squirrel. But these tiny pets can bond just like cats and dogs. Kelly says, "Like a dog or cat they may be lonely all day when you're gone at work or school these guys sleep they're nocturnal and so you come home at night they're ready to come out and play with you. They have that level of popularity because they really do have a type of unique connection with them so they're right up there with those animals."

     At the end of the day Sasha is just happy to give families a new addition. "I always tell people we're not here to sell animals we're here to complete families. They really bond to you and a lot folks are looking for that companionship they may not find anywhere." Rhonda Fulkerson says,"The companionship is the big thing and of course they're always happy to see you and that's the best part about it."

Jaleesa Irizarry