Giving a pet as a gift

December 9th, 2008

It takes a cold-hearted person not to love a wee little puppy.  But playing with an energetic and snuggly pup under the Christmas tree is a lot different than the long-term commitment of pet ownership.

Three tips for responsible pet ownership:

1. Buying or adopting a dog or cat is a serious responsibility.  Long after the Christmas tree is put away and the novelty of a puppy wears off, she’ll still be living in your house, eating food, needing veterinary care, and demanding a steady supply of exercise, discipline and affection.  If you’re going to give a pet as a gift, don’t let it be a surprise. Talk about it with the recipient and make sure that her lifestyle and living situation will allow for the best possible care.  Not just in the weeks after taking the dog in, but in the years to come.

2. Not all packs are created equal.  We’ve observed first hand how some pet owners do not have the leadership qualities to be an effective pack leader.  In one extreme case, the dogs rule the house, defecating where they like and answering to no one.  Before bringing a pet into your family, do lots of research about dog or cat psychology and get an understanding of how to be a good pack leader. This can be a time consuming process: make sure you’re up for it before you buy.

3. A very sad example from Metro Dog’s current foster, Ms. Penny: neglect is the most insidious form of abuse.  If you’ve owned a pet for years and your lifestyle has changed, or you’ve decided you just don’t want her anymore - for whatever reason - you have a responsibility to make sure your pet finds a good, healthy new home.  You may not drop her at a city shelter or abandon her on the street.  If you must part ways, it’s your job to find a warm, loving family to take her in.

If you’re reading this blog, you love pets; it’s only natural to want to get them out of a shelter and into homes.  While it might work in some cases, in general we can’t recommend giving a pet as a gift.  There are many, many dogs and cats in the world in need of good homes, but dropping a pet on an unsuspecting friend or relative is not the best way to help them.  Instead, consider a donation in the gift recipient’s name to an organization like Best Friends Animal Sancutary.  And then encourage the giftee to volunteer at a shelter with you in the new year.

Of course, if someone you know already has a dog, we can help you find lots of ways to spoil her…

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