Purrley, let me introduce you to Zeus, Peanut and Puck - just three of the eight prairie dogs that have been Pet of the Day! They are indeed bred as pets these days, just are not as common as gerbils, hamsters, and other formerly wild animals that have been domesticated over the years. I don't believe any of these guys were wild-captured, though of course they are not as "tame" as pets that have been domesticated for generation after generatiion like bunnies, etc.