Years ago, my loser ex-boyfriend got me a cell phone for Christmas. He couldn’t commit 
to me, but he could commit me to a $39.95/monthly contract for the next 2 years? Geez, thanks (I’m happily married now so I suppose it shouldn’t matter lol)…
When it comes to getting a pet as a gift for someone for the holiday season, think again… While your squealing loved one may initially adore that cute kitten, bunny, or puppy, the gift-receiver often isn’t ready for the commitment of it. Which leaves you…the Mom (being the most responsible member of the family, right?) taking care of it, walking it, cleaning it’s litter box, bathing it, and paying to feed it and vaccinate it for the next decade or so.
Top 3 Reasons Not to Give Pets as Presents
1. Pets are living, breathing creatures. Depending on what kind of pet, the pet could be alive from 2 – 40 years. Yes, that is a long time. Forcing that kind of commitment on someone is not fair, kind, or, a good gift giving policy.
2. Your pet choice may not be what your recipient wanted. Picking a pet is a very personal thing, and just because you the pet, doesn’t mean your recipient will. Do you know how many animals, bought at pet stores, from breeders, or “saved” from shelters end up abandoned, relinquished, or returned? The ASPCA says approximately 3 million to 4 million are euthanized (60 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats) in our country, but I will tell you, many were simply killed, due to lack of space or time.
3. Pets are expensive. Yearly maintenance for a pet of virtually any size can be over $1,000, with costs on the rise. While they aren’t as expensive as children, you also wouldn’t give a child as a present.
If you want to help someone adopt a pet, consider sponsoring their adoption costs. Go with them to look at pets. Wear your logical and rational hat, don’t just fall into a pair of fuzzy eyes and never look back. Take a night or two, think it over. Ask if you can foster to adopt. Be prepared to answer a lot of questions.
Before purchasing a pet for the holidays, make sure everyone in the family is ready to commit to it and is ready to tackle on all the responsibility…with the payoff being love and loyalty!
Have a horror pet holiday story? Do share!
Beth Green, Owner
Paws Pet Care Pet Sitting & Dog Walking
My sister Ex (THANK GOD! LOL) got her a baby ferret one year as a gift. KNOWING she could not have pets in her apartment because the landlord was highly allergic! Shows ya right there what kind of brainiac he was!
He bought the ferret, a small cage & some food that was about it! I’ll admit we all loved Boomer. But my sister had to buy a bigger cage, toys food etc. Then Boomer got sick a few months later. He couldn’t use his back legs & the vet bills started adding up real quick!
The final diagnosis was Boomer had Aleutian Disease. AD is caused by a parvovirus and may have strains of varying strength and varying immune response. Transmission of ADV can be via the air, but is usually accomplished by direct contact with infected ferrets’ urine, saliva, blood, or feces. ADV can also be transmitted through contact with contaminated cages, gloves, towels, or humans. There is no effective treatment for either the clinical disease or carrier state of AD in ferrets. Supportive care with syringe feeding, fluid therapy, anti-inflammatory drugs, and various other medications are used to treat the clinical signs. Treatment may be helpful in mildly affected AD ferrets, but will rarely reverse the disease in severely affected cases.AD is has often been described as a “wasting disease” characterized by chronic (long term) weight loss. A common manifestation is weakness or paralysis due to spinal cord damage, which progresses from the hind end up to the front legs. Other signs include lethargy, tarry stools (due to blood in the stool), and tremors. Occasionally the disease may cause sudden death. Organs commonly affected include the kidneys and liver.
Sadly Boomer crossed the Rainbow Bridge at only 6 months old. Nice Christmas Present huh?
About 6 months later my sister had broken up with the jerk & was living in a new apartment. I ASKED her if she would like a kitten as her Christmas Present. We had cats in the family already. She was excited. We went to the shelter together & she adopted Cassie. Cassie is now 11 years old & still my sisters baby! Asking made a BIG difference rather than presenting somebody with a pet they know nothing about, & wouldn’t have bought on their own!