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.