Have you ever gotten a Christmas present that you didn’t really like but had to accept it anyways? Or were really excited for your present in the beginning but ended up not using it after a month? Unfortunately, this is the case for many people with their furry gifts. A dog or a cat should be viewed as a fifteen year commitment, not a one day present. If you wouldn’t consider getting a pet on any regular day, you shouldn’t treat Christmas any differently.
Why does this matter? Here are some pet ownership statistics:
- About 20% of people who leave dogs in shelters adopted that dog from a shelter earlier
- At least 47% of dogs that are rehomed were rehomed because they had “pet problems”
- There are about 23 million pets in underserved homes in the U.S. right now, 77% of which have never seen a veterinarian
- A cat is at least $780 a year and $16,800 over its possible 15-year lifetime
- A larger dog is about $1,570 a year and ranges from $22,025-$82,929 over a 12-year lifetime
Too often, a dog or a cat experiences a return to the animal shelter or has to live in an underserved home. People have even coined the recurring pattern as “the Christmas Dumpathon.” However, this pattern not only applies to Christmas, but to the pandemic this year as well. In the beginning of quarantine, animal shelters throughout the U.S. were emptied by those who wanted a companion during their lonely times. This was celebrated at first, however, what will happen to those pets when everyone is forced to go back to work? Constant abandonment and rehoming is disorienting for dogs and cats, so rashly adopting one of them can provide consequences for both you and your pet.
Now understanding the negatives that can come with a seemingly harmless Christmas present, here’s what you can do to ensure a happy adoption that will last a lifetime. The most important thing to do is research. The more information that you know about the pet and about pet ownership the better. The expenses of a lifelong pet is about the cost of a car, so you need to ask yourself if you can afford that. Since so many dogs are returned due to behavior issues, get the whole family to go on a trip to the animal shelter and see which one has the best temperament for your household. If you truly believe the person that you want to give a gift to wants a dog or a cat, it is best for you to buy a gift certificate for an adoption fee or pet supplies, then allow that person to choose the pet that they want the most. Finding a pet that specifically fits you and your home will be in the best interest for both parties.
However, these considerations should not only be taken for larger pets like dogs and cats. Hamsters, rabbits, turtles, snakes, fish, etc. all have their own needs that have to be tended to. Just because a child is not responsible enough to take care of a Golden Retriever doesn’t mean they should receive a hamster instead. For any animal, it is vital to do research and give it the space, diet, care, and shelter that it needs to be healthy and happy.