With the holidays coming, it’s tempting to put a bow on an adorable puppy or kitten and give it as a present. They’re cute and cuddly and fuzzy. They’re also not trained – they chew your shoes, don’t come when called and pee where they’re not supposed to. Puppies are not always the best gift.
Bringing a dog or cat into your home isn’t something you should do on a whim. A lot of thought should go into this before you commit. How much time do you have to dedicate to this animal? Does it need to be trained? How much time are you going to be away from it? Are you ready mentally, physically and financially to support this animal for the next 10 to 20 years? What happens if your life drastically changes – you have a baby, move or get divorced? Are you willing to keep the animal no matter what?
These are all things you need to think about before bringing an animal into your home, and when someone gifts you an animal, you aren’t given the time to consider these factors. Plus, you’re not given the chance to choose the animal you think is right for you. If someone gives you a pet as a present, the odds are it may not be the right match.
Unfortunately every year, many of the pets given as presents wind up in shelters across the country, most of them puppies and kittens. It is estimated that 50 percent of the pets given as gifts wind up in shelters. What starts off as a novelty soon wears off as the reality of the commitment sets in. The holidays in general can be a rough time of year to bring a new puppy home for many reasons.
For example, how much time do you have to dedicate to a training schedule? Holidays are hectic with parties, family and traveling. Puppies need a schedule for eating and training.
There are many hazards around a house with a new puppy or kitten and the new family may not be aware of them. Choking, ingesting poisonous plants, ornaments, scissors or tinsel can all be dangerous to the new pet.
Lots of noise and stimulation can be scary to a new pet that is trying to adjust to a new environment. Add to that family, noisy children, music, flashing lights and more.
This doesn’t mean you shouldn’t get a pet at holiday time. Pets bring so much joy and happiness to families, often becoming a family member, and everyone should experience that. If you’re thinking about a pet at the holidays, make it a family gift and make it something you all do together.
Sit down and discuss it as a team. Decide on whether you want a puppy or kitten or a full-grown pet. If you do want a puppy or kitten, decide who is going to be responsible for training and cleaning up after it. Having your kids take this on is a great way to teach them responsibility, but you have to know their limitations. Parents need to be ready to take on this task when the kids don’t.
Determine what size and weight you want. Big or little? Boy or girl? If you are traveling over the holidays or having parties, make sure you know what you are going to do to ensure your pet’s safety and well-being during these times.
Once you decide these factors, then it’s time to figure out where you are getting your newest family member. Adopting a dog or cat from your local shelter or rescue can be the best thing you can do. Not only are you giving a gift to your family, but you’re also giving the gift of a home to a dog or cat who desperately deserves it.
You might be thinking, “I want a specific breed.” That’s not a problem. There are breed-specific rescue organizations, and shelters are overflowing with purebred dogs. Rescues and shelters also have puppies and kittens.
When you adopt, you’re not only saving the life of the animal you adopt, you’re saving the life of the animal being replaced by it. Shelters and rescues can only hold a certain amount of pets so every time they adopt one out it makes room for another one.
Pets make wonderful additions to families, and they are loved and treasured for many, many years. Just make sure when you commit to adding a pet to your family, you’re in it for the long run.
Courtney Rheuban works with Star Paws Rescue (starpawsrescue.org), an organization that has been rescuing pets and placing them in forever homes since 2005.
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