An open letter about giving pets for Christmas
Every year after the Christmas holidays, animal shelters and rescues are
over-run for months with the results of impulse pet purchases as Christmas
gifts.
Children and parents alike are often understandably enticed by petstores,
television and print ads featuring a Christmas puppy under the tree, and
programs and movies featuring a particlar breed of dog that are aimed at
children, such as Disney's 102 Dalmations. However, unlike last-year's toys, a
pet cannot be laid aside once its initial novelty has worn off. Pets, especially
dogs, have long lifespans and require a very large amount of effort, time,
and even money. Sadly, this is often discovered after the fact, and so the pet
ends up a source of unhappiness and stress for the family who was not ready
for the realities of pet ownership. Inevitably, thousands end up in shelters or
rescues, or are simply abandoned or neglected.
The introduction of a pet into a household should be a total family decision
that has been discussed, planned for, and researched well before the time of
purchase or adoption. Also, parents should be absolutely certain before
bringing a pet into the home that their children are mature enough to be
educated to interact responsibly with the pet. Many incidents of pet bites
occur when children unintentionally provoke or mishandle the family pet.
Please avoid the heartache a poorly-thought-out pet purchase causes both
you and your family and the pet itself. Christmas is a busy and sometimes
stressful time of year, and is not at all the ideal time to add a pet to the
family home. Instead, spend time learning all you can about the breed you
are interested in, and research reputable, responsible breeders (or consider
visiting an animal shelter or contacting a rescue group) to find a suitable
family companion once you have made an informed decision.
Happy Holidays to all people and animals alike!
Lisa Hatlestad
