By Bridget Domenighini
As the holidays approach, animal shelters will undoubtedly start getting phone calls asking about animals as holiday gifts. While the adoption of a homeless animal is exciting any time of year, there are important things to consider when thinking of giving a pet as a gift.
• Will the person receiving the animal be able to provide a lifetime commitment to this pet?
Many cats live nearly 20 years, and some dogs live 15 years. Think of the long term consequences of your adoption choice for the person receiving the pet. If the cat or dog is for young kids, this animal may very well be around until they are in college! If you know you can provide the love, commitment, and medical care that the animal will need for its’ lifetime, adoption may be the right choice for you.
• If I get a pet for my children, will it become a member of the family, or my burden?
According to the ASPCA, the average yearly cost to own a medium sized dog is $1,500, while the average yearly cost to own a cat is $1,035; and to own a small animal like a rabbit or guinea pig is $340. These numbers are just for the basics: food, supplies, and basic medical care. That does not include emergency medical expenses.
• Have you considered the new pet owners’ allergies, work schedules, and living arrangement?
It’s hard to know if someone may be allergic to a certain animal without them meeting the pet, and you may be subjecting them to a sniffling, sneezing dilemma if they have to decide between their health, and keeping a dog they instantly fell in love with. It would be equally heartbreaking to give an animal to someone who is frequently out of town for work, and cannot afford boarding kennel fees, or to give a large lab puppy to someone who has a landlord that does not allow dogs over 30 pounds.
• Are you willing to take on the responsibility of caring for the pet if the pet’s owner decides they cannot or will not commit to the animal?
Often, families think it would be a great idea to give their elderly parents or grandparents an animal as a gift. While the thought is nice, some elderly people enjoy lives free of animals and commitment. It’s not fair to the animal to be caught in the middle when you decide that your parents need a 100 pound mastiff puppy for companionship during their retirement years. These animals often end up in shelters because they are too much for their elderly owners. You should also consider what will happen to the pet when the owner becomes sick, injured, or goes into an assisted living facility, and cannot care for it.
Of all the animal gift-giving situations, the one that seems to work out well in most cases is a parent adopting for a child in the same household. Parents usually consider the consequences and possibilities of having to be responsible for the pet, at least part of the time, when their child fails to walk, play with, or feed their kitten or puppy.
If you’ve decided you would like to give an animal as a gift, check out your local animal shelters’ options. Some shelters offer gift certificates or vouchers for a pre-paid adoption. The person receiving the gift certificate can then visit the shelter and choose a pet that best fits their lifestyle, and if they can’t find one, they can choose to donate the gift card to cover the cost of an adoption for a stranger. Some shelters also offer holiday promotions, such as fee-waived adoptions, or extra adoption hours in the weeks leading up to Christmas. Whatever you decide this Christmas, please be sure you are considering the happiness and welfare of both the animal, and the new owner.
For more information, or to find your forever family fur member, call PCAPS at 309-672-2440. Remember, this holiday season, or anytime, if you see an animal who looks abandoned, neglected, or in distress, please call local animal control or law enforcement. Your call can mean the difference between responsible, humane care for the animal, or a lifetime of suffering. Peoria County Animal Protection Services can help if you lose your pet, or see an animal injured or in need. Call PCAPS for information, or to report animal cruelty or abuse.
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