What child has not asked for a pet for Christmas? However, is
giving a pet for Christmas a good idea? In the past, many
shelters and rescues discouraged adopting a pet as a child’s Christmas present
and for good reason. All too often a pet is the unfortunate victim of the “shiny
toy syndrome”. After the excitement
wears off, and the reality of what it takes to care for a pet sinks in, many
pets are left lonely and ignored or worse yet finds themselves back in a
shelter. Even worse, many pet owners get puppies at the holidays and then realize that they grow into a big adult dog that need to be trained. However, this does not always have to be the case; with education and
through screening, more pets can be saved and find their forever home during the
holiday season.
The first step is to determine if the child is ready for a
pet? Their age, time and activity level all should be considered and don’t forget
to consider your ability to commit too. The second step is to research types of
pets, different breeds, their needs and temperament. These two steps can be key
to a successful adoption. Also, education
on the responsibility of pet ownership can help a family understand that this
is a life commitment and ensure they are ready for the long haul. With this
information a family can better determine if the time is
right to adopt and what pet would best fit into their family.
