Pets as Gifts a Bad Idea and Other Animal Xmas Tips
Prince George, B.C. – If you’re thinking of buying a friend a pet for Christmas, you may want to re-think that idea.
That from Angela Lotze, executive director of the Prince George Humane Society.
“We in general usually discourage people getting pets for other people,” she says. “The main reason for that is responsible pet ownership requires a long term commitment to an animal.”
Lotze says that commitment can include more than just day-to-day care, including things like addressing behavioural issues and inevitable medical costs.
“The person adopting or buying a pet should be making sure that the person is going to make the commitment and can afford to make a long term commitment,” she says, adding long-term plans should also be taken into account.
“Are you going to stay where you are now? Are you planning on going into an apartment? Are you planning on moving?”
Lotze says there are other considerations for pet owners during the holiday season, including Christmas trees and the dangers they pose to cats.
“You know there was a recent instance where a little kitten got caught up in the Christmas lights of a Christmas tree and unfortunately hung itself and didn’t make it.” she says.
“We’ve also had instances where cats eat and swallow tinsel which can cause an obstruction. Things like bones are also a choking concern people need to be concerned about.”
And when it comes to dogs, she says to steer them clear of chocolate.
“Chocolate is poisonous to dogs and during Christmas we tend to get a lot of that as gifts or leave them lying around. We just want people to be cognizant this time of the year.”
Comments
“You know there was a recent instance where a little kitten got caught up in the Christmas lights of a Christmas tree and unfortunately hung itself and didn’t make it.” she says.
Yes, but there was also a case 5 years ago, when I got my wife a puppy for Christmas. Since then it has given us both many smiles and he’s had the best life a dog could ever hope for. I’d do it again in a heartbeat.
If you are thinking of giving a pet as a gift just think it out. Time for it, a place for it, the cost of food and care etc. Then if it’s all good go ahead.
The article states: “If you’re thinking of buying a FRIEND a pet for Christmas, you may want to re-think that idea.”
Then: “We in general usually discourage people getting pets for OTHER people.”
The article was meant to discourage people from giving pets to FRIENDS and OTHER people.
To me that implies this does not include family members living in the same house as the gift giver, which would normally be the parent(s). That means that they have joint responsibility for the care and costs involved. As well, I would think that the topic of having a pet would have come up during the year.
Several cautionary conditions were also raised when considering the acquisition of a pet.
I think the implication is that the pet is in the dog/category. It does not specifically state that. All sorts of other animals such as “pocket” pets are included in this. Currently there seems to be a fad for a small marsupial whose habitat is Australia and adjacent countries. They are wild animals not bred to live indoors with people.
Again, the tiles to these articles are shortened and often do not convey an important piece of additional information. That is found by reading further.
Do dogs hope?
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