You love your pets, and it stands to reason that anyone would be thrilled to receive a pet as a gift. But is it appropriate to give pets as gifts?
As much as you might long to see the way your child's face lights up when she finds a puppy or kitten under the tree on Christmas morning, giving a pet is more than a priceless photo op. It's a years-long commitment to a new family member. Before dreaming up ways to surprise someone with a pet, consider whether they're ready to take on that kind of responsibility.
You can find a lot of articles online warning against giving pets as gifts. However, studies conducted in recent years have shown that, contrary to what warnings suggest, pets received as gifts are actually less likely to end up back in shelters than pets either adopted or bought from other sources, including friends, pet shops, and shelters, says the ASPCA.
In fact, the ASPCA conducted its own study and published it in the journal Animals. The study concludes that of the majority of those who were given pets as gifts, their attachment to their pet was not negatively impacted. Often, people reported feeling more attachment to pets received as gifts, particularly when receiving the pet from a loved one as a surprise. These findings, along with the concern that shelter animals are in need of good homes, have led the ASPCA to change their official stance to be more favorable toward giving pets as gifts.
Giving pets as gifts does have the potential to backfire if it's not done with a lot of consideration, preparation, and care. Here are some guidelines to help you determine whether a pet would be an appropriate gift for someone:
Young pets may need several visits in their first year for vaccinations. Adult pets generally benefit from annual check-ups, while senior or special-needs pets might require more frequent visits.
While it can be a good idea to give a pet as a gift, what is generally not a good idea is to actually wrap the pet up as a gift. Here are some creative ways you can surprise someone with a new pet.
The gift of a pet will likely be much more appreciated if the pet is healthy, socialized, and well-behaved. It's best to avoid purchasing a pet from a pet shop, which often gets dogs and cats from breeding mills with questionable or unethical practices. If you're determined to give a purebred pet with a solid pedigree, do your research to find a reputable breeder who sells directly to pet owners and not to pet shops.
The best place to get a gift pet from is an animal shelter. Animals in shelters are thoroughly vetted for health and behavioral issues and typically have already been spayed (or neutered) and received all of their vaccinations, which will remove the burden of those responsibilities from your intended recipient. Best yet, your loved one will not only receive the gift of a new companion — but they'll also know they've helped find a pet a forever home.
Giving pets as gifts can be a rewarding experience for the giver and the receiver. As long as you do your research and make the pet's welfare top priority, the gift of a pet could be the most cherished gift your loved one will ever receive.
Jean Marie Bauhaus is a pet parent, pet blogger, and novelist from Tulsa, Oklahoma, where she usually writes under the supervision of a lapful of fur babies.
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