Pets as Gifts

It’s one of the sweetest, most familiar images of the holidays – an adorable furry heading poking out of a festively wrapped box with a great big bow. There are squeals and tears of delight as the recipient hugs their new Christmas pet. It would be awesome if real life worked out the way it does in commercials, but that is very rarely the case. The ASPCA estimates that three to five million dogs and cats are returned to shelters each year. However, with some careful forethought and sincere commitment, pets can be a wonderful gift for your family. 

If you’re thinking about giving a pet as a gift, these tips will help with the process. 

Think about a gift certificate. Pets are very personal gifts. There are lots of things to consider when choosing the right animal, not the least of which is the personality of the new owner and the prospective pet. Instead of choosing the pet for your family member, think about giving them a gift certificate to a local shelter so they can choose their own. With a gift certificate, you still get the element of surprise, but in case it’s unwanted, no animals are affected.

Another idea is to buy a stuffed dog or cat and have it sitting with the gifts. You can purchase some of the equipment for the pet like a carrier, leash, or bed and have the stuffed animal all decked out in gear and attach the gift certificate. 

Give a pet to immediate family only. Pets require a lot of care of love. They are also a long term commitment. Giving a pet to a friend or relative may be mean you will not be around to help with the care and expense of a pet long term. Sometimes a friend might accept a pet as a gift because they just don’t know how to say no. That is one reason you should only give pets to your immediate family — husband, wife, or kids.

Avoid impulse. Whether you want to give a pet to the kids or to a friend, do not do it on a whim. Don’t pick up a kitten as a last-minute idea or because you see a posting for a free puppy. Acting on impulse also doesn’t give you (or the recipient) the chance to select a pet by size, activity level, and temperament, all critical factors when choosing a pet.

NEVER wrap your pet. It may be tempting to recreate that movie moment of the puppy poking his nose out of the Christmas box. In short, don’t! This is dangerous for your pet and can be extremely traumatizing. 

Make sure you have all of the necessary supplies. Along with the new pet, make sure you cover the animal’s immediate needs (leash, collar, food, bedding, toys, etc.), so the new pet owner doesn’t have to take on unexpected expenses. 

The companionship and unconditional love that comes with a pet is one of the most amazing things in the world. Just make sure the new pet parent is ready for everything else that comes with having an animal.