Think before you give a pet as a gift

Times Reporter      

 

Giving a pet for Christmas or other special occasions can seem like a great idea. I mean, who wouldn’t want a new puppy or a cat? But when you really stop to think about it, the pet may be a great new furry companion, but it’s also giving that person a commitment they may not be ready for. 

“We don’t recommend giving pets as gifts at all. We recognize that in some cases it may be appropriate, the kids have been bugging for a puppy and the family has decided to get a puppy and they want to do it at Christmas or a birthday,” said Christine Campbell, chairperson for Oops-a-Dazy Rescue and Sanctuary Society. 

“In those sorts of cases what we recommend doing is asking the rescue group, or the breeder or whoever you are going through to get your pet, ask them if they have any sort of a gift certificate available,”

Oops-a-Dazy will make gift card in the adoption fee denomination for the type of pet people are looking for. This way the person receiving the gift card can think about the decision and make sure they are ready. This also allows them to pick a pet that is going to match their lifestyle well. 

If you have received a pet as a gift you need to determine if the pet is right for you, and if you can financially afford to support the animal. 

“If the answer is no then you need to look at what are the options. Does the breeder or rescue group have any kind of return policy? It is not admitting defeat to admit you are not ready for a pet,” said Campbell.

“It’s more important that the pet is going to have a good home for the rest of its life. So often we’ll have animals that get adopted as a Christmas gift, or bunnies at Easter… but once the novelty has worn off that’s when they end up being surrendered to a rescue group or a shelter.”

By the time an animal ends up in a rescue group or a shelter they may have behavioral issues stemming from being in a home that wasn’t quite ready for them. This can also affect whether or not the pet gets adopted into a new home.  

If returning a pet isn’t an option, then there are strategies about re-homing a pet. Make sure first off that you do plenty of research. Oops-a-Dazy would be more than happy to talk to someone looking to responsibly re-home a pet. 

“What we don’t recommend doing is the Kijiji free to good home ads. Sometimes those homes aren’t as good as they make themselves out to be,” said Campbell. 

She feels that if people have to work a little harder to get a pet, or spend some money, than they are more likely to value that animal. 

Ideally someone receiving a pet as a gift will have talked to the giver about it first. To ensure you get the best start with your new pet be sure to talk to as many experts as you can, your veterinarian, trainer and even rescue groups have resources available to the public. 

One option Oops-a-Dazy has available is that gift cards purchased can also be made into a donation for the organization if the recipient decides a pet is not for them at this time. 

“It’s a nice option, it is kind of a win-win even if they don’t end up getting that pet. It helps them make a responsible decision but also still feel good about it,” said Campbell.

Oops-a-Dazy has approximately 200 adoptable animals waiting for a good home. The fee for adopting a pet through the rescue group depends on age and type of animal. All of the adoptions cover spay or neuter, the microchip, at least one set of vaccinations, de-worming and one month of free pet insurance.