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Pets as Presents?

Advice from Animal Expert Dr. Grey Stafford

With the emphasis on gift giving this time of year, it might be tempting for some to give animals as presents. True, animal shelters always seem to have an endless supply of cats, dogs and bunnies in need of a good home.  But does that mean we should give someone a pet for the holidays, especially as a surprise?

To answer this question, I asked the caring folks at the Arizona Humane Society.  Turns out, with the exception of a parent adopting a pet for their immediate family, the humane society does not encourage or permit adoptions made on behalf of others.  The reason? The society wants to be certain that all the animals passing through its doors end up in loving, forever homes.  And, while giving someone a pet may sound like a fun idea, there’s no guarantee the recipient will like, need, or even want it! 

The fact is, choosing to open your home (and life) to a pet is a serious decision—one that shouldn’t be made rashly while rushing through a mall, or by someone else!  The sheer number of domestic animals in need of homes suggests that, for whatever reason, many new family pet situations simply don’t succeed.  Perhaps, if prospective pet owners take a little extra time think about the work it takes to satisfy all the physical and mental needs of animals, we might have fewer but much more successful (i.e. life long) adoptions.

Now, for those of you who are willing and able to open your own home to an animal in need, the holidays can be a good time to help it quickly adjust to its new life.  For instance, the kids are usually home from school for a week or two.  This gives you and your family several days to begin teaching your new pet how to succeed.  That’s not a lot of time and to be sure, there’s nothing routine about the holidays. However, even some extra time off from work and school can be used to get your new pet into a routine that will help prepare it for life after the holidays, when it more likely to be left home alone for longer periods of time.

For those of you still set on giving someone a pet, consider this alternative-- an AZ Humane Society Critter Credit Gift Card – it can be purchased in any amount and used toward any AHS fee or service. So you can give it to someone and they can use it toward a future adoption, for services at an AHS public clinic, to purchase items from the Pet Emporium or Thrift Store, or even to buy a ticket to an AHS charity event.

Have a happy and safe holiday season!

Learn more about Dr. Grey Stafford

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