Thinking of giving a puppy or kitten as a holiday present? You might want to think twice!
Every year shelters and veterinarians see people returning fluffy friends that were supposed to be forever pets.
Read on for reasons why you shouldn’t give a pet as a holiday present!
The holiday season brings out the best in everyone, driving us to pick out the best gifts for the most important people in our lives. What’s the one thing your son, daughter, niece or nephew has been begging for? A puppy! A kitten! Please Mom, Pleaseeeeeee Dad!
How could you not give them the best gift in the world? How much work can a tiny kitten or puppy really be? Tempting, we know.
Well, the answer is: it’s a lot of work. Tending to a barking or meowing baby during one of the busiest times of the year is definitely not ideal.
Although the holidays are fun, they also bring stress along with them. Remembering to buy everyone a gift, wrapping the gifts, organizing your house for guests, preparing extravagant meals, and so much more. All of this takes up a ton of time and effort in itself. Add in a new pet and you’re setting yourself up for failure.
Not only can it be overwhelming for you, it can actually be dangerous for your new pet too. There may be lots of yummy food and drinks around that could be toxic to your pet or cause tummy upsets.
Watching them 24/7 to make sure they don’t get their little paws on anything harmful may prove to be more difficult than expected. Don’t even get us started on wrapping paper and ribbons! If your pet ingests any foreign objects, that’s an emergency trip to the vet!
Anxiety. This is what you and your new pet will be feeling when the front door is constantly opening and closing, different people coming in and out. Keeping track of them to make sure they don’t get out of the house or even stepped on is absolutely a full-time job. Your new puppy or kitten will be thrust into a world of chaos and stress during the first couple months of their life. This can certainly have long-lasting effects on them and shape their behaviour in the future.
These are all things to consider when thinking about giving a pet as a present during the holiday season. It is no secret that people become easily overwhelmed during this time. Purchasing or adopting a puppy or kitten will only increase this stress and cause you to be less attentive to your new friend, when they should really be receiving the best of your attention at this age. If you’re going to add a new pet to your family, we recommend waiting until a less taxing time, when you are able to give them all the attention they deserve to thrive!
