Pets As Presents This Christmas

December is approaching and many are beginning to think about the gift giving season. It may seem like a wonderful idea to buy a fluffy kitten or a beautiful puppy, wrap them in a shiny red bow and watch your child or partner squeal with delight – but a pet is a lifetime commitment, not a holiday treat.

Christmas is a busy time for animal shelters. The RSPCA can expect over 3,000 animal surrenders in December, hundreds of these on Christmas Day. Aside from the enormous pressure this places on staff, animals and resources; not all of these animals are able to be re-homed. This influx of impulsive buying has devastating consequences. Shelters are forced to destroy hundreds of animals every year because they do not have the space or resources to accommodate them.

General Manager of Animal Aid, Nell Thompson spoke about the months following the Christmas period. “What we do see a few months after Christmas are puppies coming in when they’re four, five, six months. They’re very active. They’re starting to destroy things... That coincides with winter so they’re muddy ... people don’t want them inside anymore.”

A new pet needs to be a well thought-out family decision. A pet requires considerable time and money. It will have vet bills, food bills, grooming requirements and exercise needs. It will need to be cared for when the family is away, and trained for basic obedience.

Pets do not stay cute and cuddly forever. When they grow up they will require a certain amount of attention that a working family or an individual is unwilling or incapable of providing. It is a sad fact that people grow out of their pets and consequently dump them at a nearby shelter.

Various organisations like PETstock and Pedigree have taken a stand against impulse pet purchases. Both recently announced national pet re-homing programs. PETstock has joined forces with PetRescue, Australia’s largest pet adoption website, to bring people and pets together this holiday season. These organisations are united in the hope that they can reduce the tragic number of surrendered animals.

Failure to microchip or affix an identity tag to pets is another contributor to the seasonal influx. Not all animals that find their way to shelters over Christmas are there because the sheen has faded. Some animals are loved members of the family but they have been lost or left behind whilst the family is travelling. Organisations like the RSPCA urge that pet-owners keep their information up-to-date so that their pet can be returned to them. It is a sad fact that shelters just don’t have the room to house lost pets for any extended period of time.

If you are considering a new addition to the family consider the friendly, sociable, and homeless pets desperate for a second chance. Consider your circumstances. Understand your responsibilities. And maybe save a life this Christmas.