Before you consider it, please read this ..
Because it’s “The Season”, we would love to point out the pros and cons to giving an animal as a gift. But never mind the “Season”, these are good points to consider anytime you are tempted giving an animal as a gift. Always be aware of that caring for an animal is a huge commitment, and a big strain on the bank account. Hardly any animal lover/owner will dispute that the reward we receive from our furry companions are not worth some sacrifices, but you have to be sure of that the future owner shares this opinion. Dropping off a puppy or kitten at someone else’s doorstep as a gift is not a good idea if it comes as a total surprise to the recipient.
If you are still determined to enrich someone’s live with a pet please think about the following:
Are you certain that the recipient wants to take on the responsibility of a pet? That includes providing medical care, food, shelter, etc. for at least 10 – 20 years!
If you would like to give an animal as a gift to a child, are you sure the child is responsible enough? Did you talk to the parents to make certain they allow the pet? Fact is that most kids love to play with pets but are not always responsible enough to care for them. Think about feeding the animal in time, emptying and cleaning litter boxes, walking a dog several times a day, grooming the animal, etc. Nothing is more heartbreaking than if a child has to return the pet or bring it to a shelter!
Bonding between animals and pet owners sometimes happens to be like magic. Have you ever heard of someone walking into an animal shelter, intending to rescue a certain size/breed and actually walking home with something totally different? Did you ever hear the word “The animal has chosen me”? This is true, and happens more often than people think.
Because of the sometimes instant bonding, a person should choose his or her own pet. You might find a certain puppy cute and adorable, but the future owner might have preferred something different. They might not get along with each other. Therefore if you decide upon a “living” gift, better wrap a collar or a leash, food bowls, or a cat toy together with a “coupon, a promise” for the future animal. Let the recipient of this promise or coupon chose the animal.
Some people want to give a pet as a present to someone who recently had lost a pet. Be careful, that does not always work! Many people need time to grieve and even reject a “replacement”, some don’t. (I personally immediately went and got another cat as mine died of kidney failure. But one of the reasons was that my second cat was walking around lost, and in constant search for his missing companion).
And last but not least, giving a pet as a gift for a certain occasion such as Christmas, birthday celebration, etc. is not a good idea because especially then there is a lot of activities going on, strangers or at least a larger number of people might be present, more than usual noises, etc. The new pet owner will not have that peaceful and quiet time to bond with the animal, and the new surroundings and many new people will scare the animal. That – again – is another good reason to pick a different time, where both, the recipient of the animal and the animal can bond and get to know each other.
And never forget – animals are not to be gift- wrapped! How would you feel if you were kept for hours in a narrow box with air holes and a big bow on top? Animals want and need to move, eat, drink, and relieve themselves! The cutest puppy will be less welcome if it has soiled itself in the box and is scared to death when someone finally pulls it out of a box!
Before you buy a dog or a cat – visit the animal shelter first! Save a life! Over 60% of dogs and 70% of cats in shelters need to be euthanized because they cannot find a new home!
