Non-traditional species do not make suitable companion animals because, in most cases, their welfare needs cannot be met in captivity. Non-traditional species routinely suffer from malnutrition, inadequate husbandry, insufficient companionship, poor environmental enrichment, and lack of appropriate veterinary care when they are kept in domestic situations.

Some non-traditional pets can be long lived and have expensive care requirements. For example, axolotls can live for up to 25 years and red eared sliders can live for over 50 years.

SPCA opposes the release of exotic animals kept as pets in to the wild.

Exotic pets often escape into the wild or are deliberately released or abandoned. These animals are often dependent on their human care takers to meet their physical, health, and behavioural needs and are likely to experience compromised welfare. Many do not survive.

Where they do survive, these animals can also have devasting impacts on New Zealand's native flora and fauna through predation, competition for resources and spreading disease.

It is an offence under the Animal Welfare Act 1999 to desert an animal in circumstances in which no provision is made to meet their physical, health and behavioural needs. Releasing some non-traditional species may also be an offence under the Biosecurity Act and in some regions would breach the Regional Pest Management Plans.