Sometimes it may
seem like a cute idea to give someone a pet as a Christmas present, but it’s
important to give that some extra thought before you do it. Most pets that are
given up lose their home because their owner loses interest in them or is unprepared
for the responsibility of pet ownership. This is a huge problem seen among pet
owners who receive their pets as “gifts.” Children especially are given the
mistaken idea that pets are all fun and games, but they are not fully ready to
take on the responsibility of feeding, walking, cleaning, and training their
pet.
Instead of
giving pets as presents, we recommend getting acclimated to the idea of
bringing a new pet into your home. Bringing your children to volunteer at an
animal shelter or babysitting the pet of a friend or family member can help.
Children and potential pet owners (no matter their age!) need to be reminded
that pets aren’t just cute; they are also hungry, need to exercise, and need to
use the bathroom. They can be messy when they aren’t fully trained, and the
training process can be difficult too.
