During the winter holiday season, pet stores and breeders make a lot of money. This is due to the widespread belief that puppies, kittens, and exotic pets make wonderful gifts. It warms your heart just thinking of you, a loved one, or a close acquaintance receiving a bundle of pet pleasure around the holidays. Most individuals, however, quickly become disillusioned with the concept once they realise how much labour is needed in caring for a new pet. This is especially true during the winter holiday season, when visitors arrive often, parties are planned, and guests stay overnight, and there is never enough time to complete all of your tasks.
Before and after the holidays, animal shelters are brimming with abandoned pets. Previously, since individuals who bought or adopted dogs in the summer or fall suddenly realised they didn’t have somebody to monitor the animals while they partied. When there are so many holiday errands to do, they can’t be bothered with the care, feeding, and training that comes with it. After that, because the pet is no longer a welcome member of the family after the cuteness wears off and a rug or cage has to be cleaned, or the food and veterinarian expenditures start piling up.
I’ve put up a list of recommendations for individuals looking to buy or adopt a pet for themselves or someone else around the holidays (or at any time):
- Get a dog or cat for the correct reasons.
Do you or the person to whom you’re giving the pet genuinely desire it? People occasionally acquire dogs as a temporary solution to problems in their lives. Breakups, divorces, illnesses, the need to feel better or wanted: these, and many other reasons, are not appropriate reasons to get a new pet. The shivering of a battered psyche isn’t either. Just because the local shelter advertises on TV that dogs must be adopted or they will be euthanized doesn’t imply you are the greatest prospect for such a match. Bringing a pet into your life for emotional reasons is likewise a terrible idea.
You desire a pet and are prepared to take on all of the duties that come with it, so you should buy or adopt one. Consider your pet like someone you’re bringing into your house. Are you willing to share your home with a pet, care for it, and cover the costs of such care? Are you able to devote some time to your pet? Many animals require regular socialisation with their owners. Negative and damaging behaviour may be used as an alternative to grab your attention. Remember that dogs are unable to communicate. They have no right to expect you to spend time with them.
- Never bring a pet as a surprise to anyone.
Despite the fact that I’m sure your heart is in the right place when it comes to surprising someone you care about with an adorable pet, I think it’s a terrible idea. Pet ownership should be carefully considered, discussed, and analysed before taking the plunge. Just because someone said they’d like a nice pet to keep them company doesn’t mean you should show up at their door with one over the holidays. It’s not a good idea to get a pet around the holidays. Most individuals are simply too preoccupied to manage, train, and care for a new pet.
No one wants to talk about it, but if a pet dies soon after entering your house, it will be a Christmas memory that will live for years. It happens more frequently than you would imagine, and it’s just another factor to consider before buying or adopting a pet.
- Determine whether you are financially capable of caring for a pet.
We can’t forecast an animal’s long-term health any more than we can predict our own. You can buy or adopt a pet and discover that it falls ill within a few days after arriving at your house. A change of location can sometimes trigger this. Many pets are creatures of habit, and they may not adapt well to abrupt changes in their surroundings. Medication-administered pets are particularly vulnerable.
Many pet retailers and even shelters that administer dogs and cats excessive dosages of antibiotics to get or keep them healthy is a dirty little secret. The animals’ health may deteriorate after they leave that habitat and the antibiotics are stopped. Are you prepared to spend thousands of dollars for emergency veterinarian visits, treatments, drugs, or even surgeries? Pets aren’t for you if you don’t want to take care of them.
- Before you buy or adopt, read the fine print on contracts or agreements.
Return policies at many pet businesses and shelters are restricted, and those that do impose costs. You can’t test drive a pet, with a few exceptions. You own the animal after you leave the store or shelter. When it comes to these and other issues specified in your agreement or contract with them, pet stores and shelters are highly stringent. Before you sign on the dotted line, read and reread any purchase or adoption agreements or contracts to ensure you can live up to them.
Most cities and municipalities now have legislation requiring pet owners to vaccinate or have some form of veterinarian treatment conducted as part of their pet ownership due to the carelessness of many pet owners. Failure to comply with these regulations may result in the seizure of the pet, with any and all expenses paid by the jurisdiction (including care, housing, and vet fees) being passed on to the owner. Failure to comply or pay fines can result in a variety of consequences, including the loss of your driver’s licence, receiving a penalty or summons, or even being arrested on criminal charges.
- Before you make the decision to get a pet, talk to everyone in your house about it.
When you bring a pet into the house, it becomes the pet of everyone. While you may consider it yours, everyone who lives with you will most likely have to make some changes in their life to accommodate your new pet. That may not be something everyone is willing to do. This might lead to squabbles and conflicts. That might lead to your pet becoming homeless, which is completely unjust to any animal. Before you buy or adopt a pet, talk to your family about it. Describe any and all lifestyle changes that may occur as a result of having a new pet in the house.