Pets At Christmas
[ 22 December 2007 ]
If you’re thinking of giving someone a puppy or kitten or other animal for Christmas, please pause before you pick one up from your local pet store.
In Australia alone, over 130,000 dogs & 60,000 cats are put down every year, just because there are so many unwanted pets in animal shelters.
It’s important to realise that pets are a huge responsibility. They’re very expensive — are you sure the intended recipient can afford to look after a cat who needs repeated visits to the vet, or a puppy who requires obedience training? Another thing to consider is that animals live a long time if you take care of them properly! Is a small puppy going to suit your teenager’s lifestyle? How about when they go to college?
If, after thinking about all these things, you are sure that a pet would be the perfect gift, please be thoughtful & get one from the RSPCA or other animal shelter!
Thanks for listening :>
Extra For Experts:
Pets aren’t just gifts, they’re responsibilities from the Examiner.
Pets Aren’t Always Perfect Presents from KSPR.
Super-love & cupcakes,
Gala
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I always find it responsible to look for a puppy after Christmas at the RSPCA, seeing as there are so many abandoned puppys.
its so sad, right on for reminding everyone gala!
Merry Christmas!
i would applaud you but my hands are full of almond cake …
Thank you for posting this.
The amount of unwanted pets breaks my heart. I wish I could adopt them all, but my dogs cause enough mischief by themselves :P.
i want a daschund so bad, a miniature, black and tan one. if anyone buys me one for christmas i will look after it for ever and ever.
I agree!
Every cat I’ve had come in and out of my life (trust me, at least 10 or so) has been a shelter cat..
And they make the best pets.
BEST.
They’re so happy to have found a home with you, they’re sweet and loveable.
♥♥
i’ve got a dog, and even though we’re all busy, we’ve managed to take care of her for 10+ years. :>
i also have a beta fish, but he’s only been here for a few weeks.
i think if you want to get someone a pet and they’re busy, you should go for beta fish~~ they’re completely okay for going a few days without food, and you don’t need to change their water every day.
Aww, thanks for posting this. Teh Holidayz make some people’s judgement frost over completely.
It’s Gala reincarnated as a daschund!
i’m glad you posted this and brought up animal shelters, gala!
my mother is a vet tech. on the side she runs a dog rescue because she couldn’t stand how many dogs had to be euthanized every day! she makes a lot of sacrifices to be able to save as many abandoned animals as she can. i hope most people look at shelters first. most pet stores (in the United States anyway) support puppy mills and backyard breeders… which only add to the problem. it’s really quite sad. sorry i got off topic… again, thanks for this post :) you really are my hero!
Gala! Thank you so much for posting this!
I believe that it is very important to rescue animals. Whenever someone I know expresses an interest in buying an animal I always encourage to them to rescue one. I even did two school presentations on the Humane Society this year…
You made my day with this post.
Thanks, you rock!
I love dogs so much & it totally breaks my heart to think of people trying to get rid of them. BOO! I think most of you are pretty savvy but hopefully posting this will make someone think twice about buying an animal for Christmas!
You should NEVER ever buy a dog from a pet store unless you are positive they don’t buy from puppymills! I rescued my dog from a puppymill and when we got her she was 6 pounds and was extremely malnourished.
I have 4 Dachshunds, and I love them. They are very goofy and if you have a female they are very loving and will make you laugh every day of your life. But you have to be very careful with them too because they get a lot of strain put on their backs.
You should always look to rescue a dog, because it’s great to feel as if you’ve given an animal another chance at life. If I hadn’t gotten my dog when I did, she wouldn’t be alive.
Oh I’d love to get a pet for Christmas only I can’t decide what I’d want. A kitty? A puppy? A mouse? Maybe a bunnie or a hamster. Or I could get something smaller like a hermit crab. Or something that makes pretty sounds like a bird. Ah well, I can always get a fish. Low maintenance.
I hate to think of animals as ‘gifts’ so I’m glad you posted this. They require such a commitment, one that doesn’t factor into the ‘I must buy such-and-such a present NOW’ christmas consumerist mentality. No matter how well-meaning, there should be lengthy discussions beforehand. They shouldn’t just be ‘given’, like an ugly outfit you can shelve for the rest of the year.
My sister’s ex gave her my little Maximus (a Schnauzer) as an early Valentine’s present. He was a extremely small dog, only three weeks old and he couldn’t eat on his own.
At first it was really hard because my mum didn’t like dogs (he’s our first doggie ever).
Things have improved this year, Maximus is very healthy and strong, my mum can’t envision her life without him and he just makes things more interesting at home.
If you have, or want to get a dog. Take good care of it. They are so noble that they will never ask you for more than what you can gve them.
Love them a lot and just enjoy them, they are beautiful creatures and they deserve to be with someone that will love them.
kisses.
Not only Dogs + Cats, but other animals make bad gifts as well! Can’t tell you the number of bunnies that get given + then abandoned on Easter…
Thanks for the post, Gala! Good for you to keep all of us aware. :)
This is weird… my mother is bringing a dog for my father tomorrow but it’s all good… we’ve discussed the situation and he really wants a running partner so we got a very active dog and it is one of a friend’s dog’s pups.
Golden retriever… :D
Aww, thanks for this Gala!
Here in Quebec, a lot of people get their fur-balls of love at pet-shops. The issue is that most of these animals come from puppy mills, and we don’t have very good laws on them.
So, please! Buy your doggies & kitties at the SPCA or shelter! They make the best animals, and they’re just waiting for you. :3
There’s another important point to mention in this article— vague reference to my livejournal, lamely enough, but still— If you’re in college and have pets, what will you do when you bring them home for break? This is something REALLY important to consider, honestly.
I got royally screwed this year by NOT thinking of this. My two little guys (two severely “developmentally disabled”— er… retarded)- kittens named Henri and Jules- have been placed into a boarding house for two weeks because I couldn’t find a place to keep them. I didn’t consider the breaks when I rescued them from a box in the woods (yes, people still seal kittens into boxes and throw them out of car windows. I know, I know.), and as a result, they have to stay boarded at the vets’ for two weeks, at the expense of $400+, plus they’re finally getting neutered which is more.
However, the worst part isn’t the price (Which thankfully is coming out of my mother’s wallet- she’s the one who promised the kittens could stay here and then screwed me over by changing her mind after they were already in the house)— it’s being without my little dudes for two weeks. My kittens are my LIFE and the next time I see them they’ll be post surgery.
So please, if you’re in college/living far from your parents and plan to get pets, plan your Christmases in advance, or you’ll end up like me— having snacks in your pajamas at 1 AM with no mentally handicapped kitties to share them with. :( mrrrrrghhh.
Well said Gala.
I’m so glad you posted this, Gala. I am yearning for a little animal companion of my own, but since I am a full-time uni student and I work, and I am poor on top of all that, I know I can’t support a pet at this point in my life. I may end up fostering, though, to see animals move on to great homes!
Also, I know a lot of people complain that they want a specific ‘pedigreed’ breed of dog/cat, and they can only get those from breeders/shops. Terribly false, that! I read a statistic somewhere that roughly 60% of all shelter animals are full-blooded something-or-other. Plus many places have breed-specific rescues [such as Greyhound Rescue & Boston Terrier Rescue!]
In April, my dog died. She was 21 years old and i had her since i was 3.
I got her because my mothers friend had bought her to breed with another dog she had. Because my dog didn’t breed with the dog she already had, she wanted another dog to breed with the male and her husband said she could not keep my dog too. So she decided to find someone who wanted her.
It is so cruel that people give away dogs because they won’t breed or aren’t cute enough after their puppy stage.
I hate the fact that’s how she found her way to me but i am so glad she did. What i false and vain women getting her with false pretenses!
And who would name a suspected lesbian dog Soda? Or maybe the other dog was just ugly but she was Fluff to me and i loved her.
It’s always good to get a pet for a good cause or from somewhere where they truly need you to take them home.
I think 8 months on, soon it is time to get another new addition to my family. I would never get the same type of dog or have a similar name because a new dog wouldn’t be a replacement for her but it would be the start of a new friendship.
I just want to say thank you, for posting this. For telling people to be careful, to pay attention and research.
It’s as bad for small animals, like rats. People don’t think properly about them; they think because they live shorter lives, they are easier. But the attention a rat needs is as much as any other pet – especially because later in their lives they are prone to certain health problems. And many people think they can live in a mouse cage, which is so wrong!
Oh Gala, abandoned animals completely kill me inside. I am a huge dog lover. I can’t believe the way some people treat their pets. It’s completely unfair for them to get abandoned and put down. I just want to adopt every little guy I see. My mom makes fun of me (she calls me “elmira”, as in that cartoon little girl who pretty much tortures her animals with her love) But anyway, my parents got me a puppy this year for my 18th birthday. She has been a huge pain to deal with since she is a super hyper min pin/chihuahau mix. She is my little terror, but I understand that she is still a baby and dogs are not born well behaved. I love her more than anything. People need to realize that pets take time, love, and nurturing. Not to mention a large dose of patience! Do not get an animal if you are not ready for the responsibility. And if you are, rescue one! Animals are such bundles of joy =)
Awwww those are some cute puppies!! I think our little Cherry Bomb is going to have to get a hat put on her at Xmas!!
All my pets are rescued – Pepper the dog from a K9 shelter and Jet, Momo and gemini were all rescued off people who abandoned them or wanted to kill them. I can’t wait to win lotto so I can start up a cat shelter and do free de-sexing – most baby animals that are unwanted end up that way because people can’t be assed paying the cost of neutering, so everytime a dog / cat gets pregnant they just dump the babies. It’s like $60 – 120 for a cat, I think vets should charge a lot less – it would save them money on euthanising in the long run.
If you get a puppy or kitty or rabbit or whichever for christmas please please please get it de-sexed! I know for a fact that kitties are more loving without their ‘bits’. Some university vets (like Murdoch uni here in WA) will de-sex for half price because it’s good practise for their students, so money is really no excuse.
And consider giving a donation or sponsoring/fostering/volunteering at your local shelter for christmas, instead of buying your puppy a new diamonte collar or your cat an expensive cat toy, give some food to abandoned pets who really need it!
Wow, i got a little preachy there didn’t I?
I 100% agree! Animal shelters are also great because they actually check you out, make sure your house is safe for the animal before letting you adopt. And they let you know everything about the animals health as well so that you know what you’re getting into financially.
I love cats and my husband and I have four. Three were strays that were likely abandoned. The fourth we got at a really nice shelter where “foster” parents care for them on non-adoption days (she’s ridiculously well-adjusted as a result).
It kills me to think that our babies were left as kittens to fend for themselves. It’s a tough world out there for even adult, street-smart cats.
The sibling of our Felix was seen when he was found but wasn’t caught. We don’t know what happened to her/him, and I don’t think the sibling made it.
Our other cat, C.C., has a crippled paw (we didn’t name her C.C. but it does stand for Cripple Cat). She was attacked by a dog as a kitten. At least she made it. The other cat with her did not.
All our cats except Sunshine the shelter cat were infested with all sorts of icky parasites. Our Katrina looked more like a chihuahua than a cat because she was so skinny. I’m happy to say, though, that she and the others have gone from being scrawny, scared kittens to being plump, well-adjusted cats.
I hate to think of a dog (or any other animal) being a present, like they are just some object that can be stuffed under a tree. My dog is a member of our family. He gets so excited when people come home and comes and sits with you when you’re sad. I think people need to realise that, that you are not buying a present, you are bringing a new family member home who deserves the same love and care as everyone else.
I know some people would consider this mad, and say a dog is “just” a dog. I disagree. Dogs have been our companions and worked with us for thousands of years. Refering to man’s best friend as “just” dogs downgrades (IMHO) a unique and special relationship.
But then perhaps it’s easier to tie them to a lamp-post and abandon them if you see them as “just” dogs. Grrrr….
Anyways, totally agree with you Gala. If you’re not able to give an animal the love and affection it deserves, don’t get it. If you are, there’s lots of animals in shelters who need that love desperately.
thanks for posting this, Gala!
I recently put to sleep my childhood doggie (Puck) & had a moment of realization when i looked at Nyxie. I adopted her from a shelter, where she had been brought back to THREE times. The first person didn’t take care of her & get her distemper shots, so her teeth are missing (this is why her tongue hangs out the side of her mouth). Sad! If i hadn’t rescued her, Nyxie probably would’ve been euthanized. I nearly cried when i thought of this & wished i could rescue more doggies – i’ve worked in shelters before & it makes me wish i could take all the animals home.
Here’s a little picture of Nyxie on the internets that i found in the shelter – her name was Fritzie before i adopted her:
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v21/melanthafae/nyxie/fritzie.jpg
Yay to Gala for supporting pet adoption! Yay to Gala’s readers!
P.S.
i thought it was worth mentioning that if people are looking for specific breeds to adopt, there are agencies/rescues that you can google online to find them! Some of the agencies post pictures of breeds they’ve found in local shelters & others actually rescue the animals & keep them until they can adopt them out.
I thought it might be worth mentioning! It doesn’t require a breeder to get a certain type of pet – you can still save a life!
I luv pets, but the only time I’ve seen someone giving one as a gift was to my sister, and we did keep the dog until, 4 years later, she run away :( (it was so sad!!). Now we have another one, but we bought it ourselfs…
Btw, this has nothing to do with pets, but for the first time I made a cat’s eyes in myself and I FREAKING LOVE IT! I look cute and hot and glamourous, thanks for the tips!! :D
I have the biggest issue with pets being given as gifts because I hate to see animals thought of as property. If you want to give an animal the best thing is to get the person a care package of all of the pet accessories and then let them pick out the pet themselves (you can go along to see the fun process and to pay). I’ve done animal rescue and worked with animals for years but it still amazes me how people can just toss their animals at the first hint of problems, either in their life or with the animal themselves.
What I hate the most are those people who get a pet and have to move and then just give up the animal. Would you give your kid up just because you have to move and it would be challenging? I have 2 dogs and 4 cats (and now, 3 chickens) and I’ve had to move many times with them. Yeah, it took some planning but it is doable. There is no excuse for this. You made a commitment and these bundles of love are depending on you to take care of them.
And never buy an animal from the pet store, as mentioned, they are almost all from “mills” which are horrible horrible things. Resuce and shelter animals are the best way to go. And an animal is not “broke” if it is over a year old. Don’t limit yourself to a puppy or kitten. Older animals are adaptable too and less likely to find homes. Almost all of mine were not babies when I got them and they’ve adjusted and been great pets.
Preaching from the soapbox –
Luv
Poochie
Aww, so cute!
But you’re right, pets are expensive and a responsiblity to take care of. Giving a pet as a gift is like giving a child as a gift.
You’re absolutely right. It breaks my heart to think of animals suffering. Thanks for spreading the message, Gala.
Don’t forget that the holidays themselves are a bad time to bring a puppy or kitty into your home — what with all of the glass and tinsel decorations, the poisonous mistletoe, the shiny wrapping paper and ribbons, and the constant flow of guests in and out of your house. It’s enough to stress out the most sane human, and it’s very scary and dangerous for a small animal as well.
We did get our dog for Christmas, but the woman who raised him refused to let us have him on Christmas proper for those reasons. We opened up his doggy bed and collar, and had the “omg we’re getting a dog?!?!!!” moment all the same, then went and picked him up a few days later when we didn’t have the bustle of Christmas morning and we could take the time to be with our new dog.
Additionally:
If you’re thinking of buying someone a dog, unannounced, don’t! As responsible as it is getting an abandoned pet, if you live in a place where there are many such, it’s largely outweighed by how terribly irresponsible it is to buy a dog for someone else.
Dogs are a 10-15 year long commitment. You do NOT make 10-15 year long commitments for other people. Even if the person wanted a dog, dogs vary much in maintenance, temper, health, and personal chemistry, and you do not, under any circumstances, ever, make that commitment for them. If you want to give someone the gift of a pet, and you know they want one, give them a leash and a food bowl with a card in which you promise to take him/her to every shelter in the county (or whatever) when he/she is ready and buy him/her a dog.
Simply buying someone else a pet is a great way to add to the pet recycling problem.
I agree and it was just great that you posted this. Thanks.
I just adopted a little kitten from Cat Rescue, which I will keep for the entirety of his darling little life, and I’m so proud that there are such lovely people working there. Every year on Christmas Eve, they head to the nearest pound and take EVERY CAT there. Most people don’t realise that a startling amount of the cats and dogs in pounds get destroyed the day after boxing day. It’s horrible.
I was told by my friends that they had decided to get another friend a kitten for Christmas, and did I want to chip in (about $50 per person). I declined, partly because I had already gotten her a gift, but also I didn’t want to be involved in buying an animal from a petshop. What really confused me was that my friends had already gotten kittens for themselves from the SPCA, but they decided to buy this kitten as a Christmas present. Huh??
Still, I didn’t want to be a party pooper and kept my mouth shut. Now feeling quite a bit of regret that I didn’t at least try to pursuade them out of it…I wish I could’ve shown my friends this blog just a few days earlier!!!