Give Holiday Gifts that Are Not Furry

As the holidays are approaching, a lot of people get the urge to give pets as gifts.  And many times, its usually not a well thought out decision, but more of an impulse.  If you are considering giving an animal as a gift this holiday season, please carefully consider all of the responsibilities involved with owning a pet and make sure that the gift recipient understands this as well.  

Pets are living beings with many responsibilities associated with their ownership, its not like giving someone a sweater they decide isn't for them and then have the option to exchange it for something better or put it in the back of their closet, never to surface again. Pets are every day commitments, they require a lot of care and attention and can be demanding on time and resources. 

As sure as you may be that the person you are giving a gifted pet to will want the animal, consider waiting the holidays out, think about it more, and if you still feel absolutely certain by January that your gift recipient is ready for all of the responsibility and fully understands the care necessary for the life of that animal, then seriously consider it. 

Receiving a pet as a gift may be exciting in the beginning, before reality sets in, but as the novelty wears off and the day-to-day responsibilities kick-in, all of a sudden, that fun gift turns into something less ideal for someone that wasn't fully prepared to be a pet owner.  And now suddenly that animal is unwanted and may end up abandoned at an animal shelter.

Owning a pet should be a calculated decision which involves consideration of lifestyle, long term ability to care for the animal for their lifetime, proper resources and time to devote to showing that pet the proper attention and love that it deserves. 

So, please, instead of a puppy or kitten popping out of a box this holiday season, choose something that isn't furry, unless it happens to be a fuzzy wool sweater, then in that case, I'd say, excellent choice! 

If you're still set on giving a pet as a gift, and are sure that your gift recipient is ready for this new member of the family, please take a moment to read the following checklist which will give you some information on what to expect when bringing a new pet into your home. 

Remember, that animal you are bringing into your home assumes that your love, care and attention will last forever.  Make sure you are ready for the commitment and that your home will be their forever home. 

Check out all of our adoptable animals here.