You might want to wait until after the holiday mania subsides. Holidays are an extra-busy time, leaving people with little energy for the sustained attention a new pet needs and deserves. Amid the flurry of gifts, children may relate to a new pet as just another toy to be played with, then ignored.
Visit animal shelters after the holidays When you really are ready for that new pet, consider a visit to your local animal shelter. But wait until after the holidays-when shelters are usually full. Pets given impulsively as holiday gifts often wind up in shelters after the recipients realize they're not ready for such a responsibility.
Cats and dogs of all ages detour through animal shelters. Some are relinquished by loving owners; others have been rescued from abuse. The one thing they all share is the need for a new home. Most shelters have adoption specialists who help match people with the right pets. Often shelter personnel are trained to recognize dog and cat breeds, to classify purebreds, and to estimate mixes. Sometimes a pet's ancestry is so mixed that breed traits are hidden. If you're looking for a dog with a particular appearance, you'll be surest of getting what you want by adopting an adult.
If you are not quite ready to adopt, but would like to help homeless animals, make a holiday donation to your local shelter. Many shelters have wish lists of supplies they need, ranging from paper towels to computers. Gifts of money are always appreciated, and you might benefit taxwise from this year-end contribution. But cash and goods aren't the only way to help. A few hours of your time spent exercising or socializing shelter animals can make a huge difference in their quality of life.
The right way to give a pet as a gift If your still want to give a pet as a gift, be sure the person is really ready for the responsibility a pet brings. If your Aunt Tilly assures you she'd welcome a new kitty or pup, tell her you'll accompany her to the shelter after the holidays. Then let her make the actual selection. This will be her animal friend for years; they should like each other from the start.
You can "give" the kids a puppy or kitty at the holidays without actually bringing home a new pet. Make up a package of presents that let them know their new pet will arrive soon. Gift wrap an assortment of pet supplies: toys, a collar or harness, leash, bed, food bowl, and so on. These are all the things you'll need to buy for the new pet, anyway. And it'll be fun for the kids to open the pile of presents marked "to Fluffy, with love."
