Pets are the best, but not for gift-giving!

It arrives faster than a speeding bullet!
It’s more powerful than any other occasion!
It’s able to make children behave more than any other time of the year!
Look!  At the date on the calendar!
It’s November; it’s December; it’s the holiday season, again!

And, as it happens every year, you want to provide your loved one (child, parent, significant other) with a gift that they have either been begging for, or a gift that YOU think they will enjoy.  That’s all well and good, unless surprising your loved one with a puppy or kitten is on the gift list.

A couple of years ago, I wrote a blog about why it is not in anyone’s best interest, and especially the puppy’s/dog’s or kitten’s/cat’s, to give a pet as a gift.  The blog bears repeating, and I hope the Do’s and Don’ts will be shared amongst family and friends as you contemplate your holiday shopping.

DO sit down with your family and discuss whether this is the best time to bring a pet into your home.  It takes a lot of energy and time to give a pet the necessary commitment to raising, socializing, and educating it.  Without being aware of the work that is required, your pet could grow up unruly, and, in all probability, end up in the pound where it may be put down for no other reason than no one else wants to adopt your untrained, unsocialized pet.  Remember, for the next 10 to 15 years, you (the adult) will be responsible for your pet’s well-being.  The responsibilities include daily walks/exercise, even if the weather is bad or you are not feeling well and want to stay in bed; it includes regular grooming; it includes a pet-sitter or boarding facility if you want to take a vacation.  It is often advised to potential adopters:  “If you can’t afford a vet, don’t get a pet.”

DON’T bring a pet into your home simply because you promised your child that if s/he got good grades or cleaned their bedroom, they could get a pet.  A new pet should be valued as a living, feeling, sensitive creature who is being “adopted” into the family as a new member and who will have needs of its own that the rest of the family must meet.  Too often, if a child shirks the chores or gets bad grades, the pet will be taken to the pound as punishment.  However, it will be the pet who will suffer in the end.  That is abandonment, and it sends the wrong message to a child.  And if the pet gets put down in the shelter, because it becomes overcrowded and your pet’s kennel is needed for incoming pets, that could be a guilt that is difficult for anyone to overcome.

DO think of the future.  Do you anticipate a job/home relocation?  Remember, a pet becomes a member of your family, so with that in mind, you must be prepared to commit to it for its lifetime.  Remember, all states allow pets, but you may need to do some research for pet-friendly housing.

DON’T plan to bring a pet home as a surprise.  A puppy or kitten given as a holiday or birthday gift may be thought of as an object or thing-like toy rather than a family member.  Imagine, too, that a puppy, for example, may be traumatized by overly excited children, loud noises, visiting company, etc.  That type of introduction may cause the pet to distrust humans and have an impact on its personality as an adult dog.  A new pet should be brought into a home during a period of relaxation and calm, and s/he must be welcomed by everyone in the adoptive family.  Consider, instead, giving a gift card, which you can get at a local shelter, that acknowledges you will be going as a family to “adopt” a pet that will fit your family’s lifestyle, or buy a dog bed, water and food bowls, and toys, which would show your intent and preparedness.

DO use the Internet to research pets that might suit your home life.  Check out www.petfinder.com and www.adoptapet.com, where you can put in your ZIP Code and search for pets by breed, age, etc. Also check out www.laanimalservices.com for a shelter near you and visit one to see all the wonderful pets that need a second chance at life.  You can find puppies, purebreds, adult pets, all of which will love you unconditionally.

DON’T buy a puppy/kitten from a pet store, unless it is one that obtains its pets from the shelters.  Many pet stores will have you believe that they get their puppies and kittens from reputable breeders.  Reputable breeders do not sell to stores, and they will not send a puppy home on Christmas morning.  Responsible breeders guarantee the health and temperament of their puppies and they will not sell a puppy under conditions that would not be best for the puppy.  If a store owner shows you a certificate identifying the breeder, go home and look it up on the Internet.  Chances are, you will learn that the breeder runs a puppy or kitten mill.  Moreover, if you do not know what a “mill” or a “backyard breeder” is, research those as well.

As an aside to giving a pet as a gift, if and when you do decide to bring a pet into your home, please consider this:

DO know that pets are social creatures and want to be part of the “pack,” meaning you, the family.  They should have indoor (your house) privileges along with outdoor fun.  A backyard is not necessary for a dog, so long as you take it on a couple of walks/jogs a day.  Once back inside the home and feeling tired, it will curl up and nap, awakening for a meal and to be petted.  And the best part of having a pet inside the home is the cuddling.  Yes, it may shed, but that’s one reason vacuums were invented.

DON’T get a dog if you are planning to leave it outdoors 24/7 to guard your house/business.  Get a security/alarm system instead.  If someone is intent to get inside your house/business and they carry a weapon, there’s a chance they will kill the dog first.  If you show your dog love and respect, it will reciprocate by warning/protecting you from indoors.

Once you have read the list (Do’s and Don’ts) and checked it twice, then by all means go as a family to adopt your newest family member.  It will be an experience to cherish, always.