“Merry Christmas, here’s a cute little puppy! By the way, this gift is going to cost you between $500-$1000 this year!”
The bundle of joy that is a new pet can bring a bundle of costs for the new owner that many people don’t think about before giving a pet as a gift. There’s the cost of spaying or neutering the animal, food,vaccinations, toys and much more.
“Aunt Suzie is lonely, I should get her a kitten for Christmas!”While pets do make wonderful, loving companions, taking care of a one is a large responsibility. People should make the decision about whether or not they are able to care for a pet on their own – not have the responsibility thrust on them at Christmas.
Aside from the everyday care of animals, pet owners also have to arrange their lives around their pets. Before you schedule a cruise, you have to make sure someone can check in on the cat. Were you planning on going out to the bar after your 12 hour work day? Well, you better make sure you can get home at some point to let the dog out.
According to PawRescue.org, about 50 percent of holiday adoptees end up back at the shelter after Christmas, so make sure you are making the right choice if you give someone a pet as a gift.
If you really want to give a pet as a gift, consider adopting rather than shopping. There are plenty of animals at shelters that need loving homes.Not only do you have the ability to make the person you are giving the pet to happy, you could make a lonely shelter animal happy as well.
This Christmas we will surely be seeing countless videos on social media of people opening a box and finding an adorable little puppy or kitten with a red bow around its neck. Unfortunately, many of them will end up back at a shelter, so think twice before wrapping that darling puppy or kitten up as a gift.
-By Gabrielle Martin.
