Pets may not make the best Christmas gift
If you are a parent giving a pet as a gift to a child, be ready to care of the pet yourself.
LA CROSSE, Wis. (WKBT) – A pet might be on your holiday shopping list.
However, adding a four legged friend isn’t always a good call.
New pets may be fun today, but they are a long term commitment.
“They need a lot of enrichment, exercise. There are some financial expenses associated with them. So take into account the entire picture and the lifespan of that pet,” said Hillside Animal Hospital Veterinarian Casey Conrad.
If you are a parent giving a pet as a gift to a child, be ready to care of the pet yourself.
The ASPCA says:
The ASPCA recommends the giving of pets as gifts only to people who have expressed a sustained interest in owning one, and the ability to care for it responsibly. We also recommend that pets be obtained from animal shelters, rescue organizations, friends, family or responsible breeders—not from places where the source of the animal is unknown or untrusted.
If the recipient is under 12 years old, the child’s parents should be ready and eager to assume care for the animal. If the gift is a surprise, the gift-giver should be aware of the recipient’s lifestyle and schedule—enough to know that the recipient has the time and means be a responsible owner.
The recipient’s schedule should also be free enough to spend necessary time to help assure an easy transition into the home. This is especially important during the holidays and other busy times.
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