No Christmas Pets, Please!
To many people, puppies and kittens are the perfect symbol of the true spirit of Christmas. They
represent wonderment, innocence, love, and hope for the future. While gifts like this may seem
irresistibly appealing in pictures, art, advertising or fiction, the future for those real-life kittens and
puppies who start out under the Christmas tree, in all probability, will turn out not so wonderful.
Pets can be expensive and require time, energy and patience. The entire household should be
included in on the decision of adopting a pet. The atmosphere of Christmas morning frightens the
new pet. The new pet needs to be introduced to its new home and family during a relaxed, quiet,
and gentle time. A puppy or kitten who makes its first appearance as a gift under the tree is more
likely to be thought of by children as an object, like a toy. A living animal should not be thought of
in the same category as a toy. Children need to learn that a living animal is being adopted as a
family member who will contribute much, but who will also have needs of its own, which the rest of
the family is making a commitment to try to meet. According to the Humane Society of the United
States, many animals are brought to the shelters because owners did not understand what it
would involve to properly raise their new pet or did understand but did not do the necessary work.
If you are absolutely set upon getting a pet for Christmas, consider this alternative instead:
Purchase some supplies like a collar, a book on raising a kitten or puppy, a gift certificate for a
veterinary checkup, or a gift subscription to one of the pet magazines. Wrap these up and put
under the tree. Then after the Christmas tree is taken down and the frenzy of the holiday season is
behind, the family can adopt the new pet. It will be a better start for the pet, and for the long-term
relationship between pet and owners.
An animal with a good introduction to its adoptive family is much more likely to become a long
term companion rather than just another tragic statistic.