While giving a pet as a gift for Christmas seems like a win-win situation, it’s actually not and is frowned upon by the SPCA.
“We need forever homes, not weekend homes for the animals,” says Jim Inglis, the Kelowna SPCA’s branch manager.
“What happens is that people start looking for pets as gifts,” says Inglis. “We don’t recommend surprising someone with an animal they’ve not prepared to take into their home as a lifetime pet.”
For those still wishing to give the gift of a forever home, the SPCA offers gift vouchers covering all adoption costs. This way imminent owners can visit the SPCA and pick out their new best friend after the holiday season has passed its high point.
If you want to find the perfect gift for an animal lover you might want to try a donation to an animal welfare group like the SPCA, the World Wildlife Fund or ZooCheck Canada.
These groups often offer different ways to donate, whether it be through branded merchandise or direct donations to their programs.
So, whether you want to give the gift of four feet and a wet nose, or a donation to helping dairy cows, there’s always a better option than bringing home a new pet during what can be a stressful and busy time.
DDF IN ~ I trimmed this article. If you want to read the entire thing, click on the title above. The article sent you to an alternative giving site at http://pawsitivegifts.ca/ where you can donate to the BCSPCA.
This is a very important message! I encourage you to give gift vouchers and donations in kind if you are considering giving pets.
The month after Christmas (or Kwanzaa, Yule, Winter Solstice, Chanukah, or whatever holiday you celebrate in December) are killers in shelters. Often quite literally. After the initial surprise wears off, that new pet becomes work. Most are dumped, given away or sold starting the second week of January. It usually lasts until the end of February.
When they end up in the shelters, the shelters begin to fill up. When they are full ... what then? Euthanasia? Transport to other shelters?
6 comments:
Pets don't make good gifts A.N.Y.T.I.M.E!!! ( I know yo know this...just a little rant, vent and rave)
AMEN!!!!
Indeed!
An excellent reminder!
AGREED! Totally! I agree with the chihuahua...not good anytime. And there are so many in rescue! Thanks for reminding everyone of this!!
It's not only as christmas gift. Many parents think when the dogs are so small and cute (babies) that they don't make any work but as soon as they are one or two years old, the dogs getting more attentive. When the kids are not that old, nobody wants to go out with the dogs. This also causes that many dogs are left behind on streets or outside of shopping centers...
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