And to all the people out there
thinking of giving a pet for Christmas. The three most
important things are:
(1) Do the people getting the
pet really, truly, want one, especially during the busy
holiday season? In the first months of the new year is when
the "Humane Shelters" are swamped with pets people received
for Christmas and are no longer wanted. Make sure your live
gift is really, truly wanted and that the gift receiver's)
are set up and ready for a new member in their household.
(2) THINK OF
THE ANIMAL. PLEASE.............That
new puppy or kitten (or any baby animal) has just been taken
away from the only home it has known. Not only is it a
scary new territory with new people, the busy household
further traumatizes it. Children are so excited to receive
that new pet and literally won't put it down and let it even
rest or eat properly. Or worse, young children think it is
just another toy and soon tire of it and go on to play with
their other new toys. Casting it aside. And
(3) Be fair to that new puppy
or kitten and do what many people are now doing to prevent a
baby animal being traumatized during the very busy holiday
season. Give a Gift Certificate to purchase a new friend at
a later date. Or Accessories for the new pet they will be
receiving when things are back to normal or a Picture of
their new pet to be picked up after the holidays.
Christmas, like all holidays is a special time for us. But
to a wee animal, it is often a time of great trauma in what
would normally be a quiet, calm household.
