Be Wary of Christmas Pet-Giving

If The Lady and the Tramp is misleading in any way (as adorable as it is), it’s definitely in the scene where Jim Dear provides Darling with a new Christmas puppy. Granted, J. and D. are a married couple who may or may not share in taking care of little Lady; and perhaps Darling had been wanting a dog her whole life, was ready to care for one, and was a perfect model dog owner.

However, that’s simply not the case for many recipients of Christmas pets. In fact, many of them are so unfit to care for an animal that bestowing such a gift on them in the first place could qualify for animal endangerment. I’m not suggesting that people who give animals be fined for doing so; it’s a very thoughtful gesture that shows love and kindness for both the gift recipient and the animal. After all, if the new pet owner is a good one, the animal is getting a gift, too. But if he or she is not, nobody wins.

If you’re planning on giving a dog, cat, ferret, guinea pig or even a goldfish this Christmas, please give it some thought before doing so. The fleeting whine for a puppy by a toddler isn’t going to go away; you know he or she will only turn his or her attention span onto something else come June when the animal has grown a bit and is no longer as “cute” as he was when he was a baby. If your wife mentions in passing how she always wanted a ferret as a child, be sure that she really means it and won’t demand its return to the pet store once faced with its smell.

Giving animals good homes is a great thing to do; just be sure that’s what you’re doing. Here are a few tips if you’re bent on giving someone a pet for Christmas.

Be sure he or she can handle the responsibility. Has the person had pets before? Does she or he know how to care for them? Will he or she mind daily walks, feedings, trips to the vet? If it’s a child, is he or she old enough to care for the pet?

Does he or she have the equipment? Don’t just leave a new puppy hanging! If you’re giving an animal as a gift, throw in a large supply of food, food dishes, a bed, and any other necessary equipment that it will need.

Can he or she understand how to handle an animal? I know my four-year-old, who still occasionally roughhouses with our cats, is not yet ready for the mouse that she wants. Make sure he or she understands the concept of being gentle before entrusting him or her with the life of an animal.

Your best bet, if you really want to give an animal, is to first get the person a few supplies and a book about the animal. Talk with him or her about it, make sure he or she knows what he or she is doing, and maybe even offer to share your own pet for a little while (on a supervised visit or two). Or try volunteering at a shelter together before your friend is certain he or she really wants a pet. Then, if it’s really in the cards, go to the shelter together and pick out a new friend for life.