Why you should rethink giving an animal as a gift

Christmas is just around the corner and according to the National Compass, statistics have shown that pets given as gifts are often abandoned after the holidays. The Grand Rapids Press backed up this statement by exclaiming that animals bought for the holidays often end up in animal shelters, or with the Humane Society by Valentine’s Day. Both organizations have stated to have seen an increase in pet surrenders following Christmas or other gift-giving holidays. 

Another important thing to note is that animals are not items. They are not objects that can be thrown away. They are living, breathing beings who need both love and care to survive. Deciding to get a pet should be a careful and thought out decision by the family or individual wanting the pet. Things like temperament, behavior with children, cost and environment are all things that need to be considered by the family or individual. These are not things that can be decided for someone else and someone else’s home. 

So instead of giving an animal as a gift and risking abandonment for it, allow the person you want to gift with it the opportunity to make their own choice. There are millions of pets out there looking for a loving home. But before you get one, have a conversation about it and think through it before making any rash decisions. Consider everything that needs to be considered in owning a pet, and then you can make that choice for yourself. If you ultimately decide that your family is ready to take in and love an animal, please look to your local animal shelter or rescue. Avoid buying pets from a pet shop, as most of the animals in pet shops are from breeders, and most breeders care more about profit then the wellbeing of the animal itself.

I had the opportunity to talk to Heather Clyde at one of Fargo’s local shelters, Homeward Animal Shelter. Here is her advice and thoughts on this debate: 

Q: What is your stance on pets as gifts? 

A: At Homeward Animal Shelter, we will only let animals be adopted from us if the primary caretaker is involved in the decision. Someone else can pay the adoption fee, but the owner needs to be the one to come in and pick out their dog/cat. We do this so that the owner is not thrown into it, and so that we know the animal is going into a home where it is wanted. 

Q: What would you say is the biggest thing people need to consider when getting a pet? 

A: I would say the biggest thing would be to make sure that the animal fits their lifestyle. For example, if they are the type of person who likes to just hang out at home and are not very active, then they shouldn’t be adopting a husky. People need to keep in mind that just because a puppy is cute it doesn’t mean they are the right fit. You need to research the breed to make sure you can properly care for it. Rescues and shelters like our own will tell you if it’ll be a good fit, if you are getting animal off of places like Craigslist or Facebook, you need to ask those questions. 

Q: Does Homeward Animal Shelter receive a lot more animals after and around the holidays? 

A: We see a lot of animals come in around December and usually in January we will get calls about people who got puppies and now have a problem with them or don’t want them. There are people who make poor decisions around the holidays. Making a split-second decision for a living being is not the right thing to do. It is a decision that should be thought out.

If you are interested in rescuing or adopting a pet for yourself or your family and have considered all of these things, stop by Homeward Animal Shelter. They currently have 13 dogs and 82 cats available. And they all are looking for a loving home.