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Posted on Mon, Dec 20, 2010 : 10:46 a.m.

Animals are a lifetime commitment, not just for Christmas Day

By Lorrie Shaw

xmasgoldendoodleTravOC.jpg

flickr photo courtesy of TravOC

Having time off around the holidays, coupled with the frenzy of the season can make the scenario of welcoming a pet into the household seem like a great idea. The urging of excited children makes it feel even more so. After all a new puppy or kitten adds a certain joie de vive to home life — and really, what's not to love about that feeling? Exotic pets are a popular choice for families with kids, too, because of their unusual nature.

But is the holiday season really the right time to get a pet?

That depends on how much preparation and thought is going into doing it.

After all, a pet requires a lot of consideration on a daily basis — regardless of what is going on in life, or how the humans are feeling.

But, sadly, the following scenario occurs all too often:

A prospective dog owner traipses over to a pet store to pick out a cute puppy as well as a leash, food and water bowls, a bed, a few treats and a bag of food.

With very little real preparation or forethought, they bring everything home, they surprise their kids with a puppy, and everything is great — for about a week. By this point, Mom and Dad are fed up with the kids' natural tendency to not pitch in, the accidents, the chewing, etc.

On top of this, after the newness has worn off, and everyone goes back to their lives with work, school, and dance class twice a week, sports practice three times a week — while puppy has to sit home alone. No one realized how much time and care a puppy needs to become a well-adjusted member of the household. Nor does anyone have the time or patience to carry out the consistent job of age-appropriate training and housebreaking.

Puppy then grows into an unmanageable adolescent dog that isn’t so cute anymore. Dog is given away to someone else because family just can't manage the responsibility anymore. Hopefully the new family will have the ability to give the proper attention that the dog needs. Hopefully. Can you imagine how confusing and sad it is for that dog to be shifted from one home to another like that?

Having a companion animal is an extraordinary experience. However, there are no pets that are "low maintenance" — period.

Welcoming a new pet into your family takes a lot of consideration and research to prepare for, regardless of the animal's age or breed. Here are some issues to consider:

* All breeds of cats and dogs are different, from their dietary needs and behavioral attributes to health issues. Did you know that some breeds of cat actually like to play fetch like dogs do? Some pets are more prone to cardiac issues, liver dysfunction or disorders that require maintenance medication.

* Thinking about a new puppy? It's really like having a new baby in the house. Seriously. When our dog Gretchen came home at 5 1/2 weeks, it was like bringing home an infant. Because of her age, she wasn't anywhere near being housebroken — that meant frequent potty breaks. In the middle of the day while I was out working (yes, I had to get home in between appointments to get her outside to give her exercise and so that she could do her business). It also meant waking up at night to do the same. The house had to be puppy-proofed, completely! Despite the fact that Gretchen was being crate trained, one ear and an eye needed to be kept on her to be sure she wasn't getting into anything. Having a puppy meant a lot of things. Life was different.

* Is everyone in the house 'on board' with the decision?

* It is a considerable financial obligation, too, over the life of the animal. Do you have the financial means to pay for the food? You need to get your pets spayed or neutered, and that costs money too. What about vet visits every six to 12 months for vaccines, check-ups, medicine… what about more serious medical issues? (We've personal experience in the area of serious medical problems that required surgery.)

* The life expectancy of a pet is important to consider as well. Depending on the breed, dogs can live anywhere from 7 to more than 16 years. Ditto for cats, but their life expectancy can be upwards of 20 years. (Yes, really.) Ditto for exotic birds, but it’s more like 30 to 70 (or more) years.

* What is your lifestyle like? What is your life going to look like in seven or eight years?

* Your living situation: What is it like now? Do you own, rent — will that change?

* What is your schedule like? How many hours do you work? Do you have a solid support system set in place as a backup to provide care, like a reliable relative, friend or a pet sitter?

* Are you one who has a tendency to have a more laid back, sedentary lifestyle? Are you a runner? Somewhere in between? Some breeds of dog absolutely require a good vigorous run outside everyday to keep their behavior in check. They need lots of playtime. Yes, true playaholics!

*Exotic pets have special needs. Environment requirements, specialized food/feeding schedules, enrichment toys/time, not to mention a veterinarian who deals with exotics or pocket pets — and not all do!

* Do you like to travel? Can you take a pet with you to the places that you typically like to go? Who will care for your pets when you go away for any length of time?

* Are you married, single… do you have kids — have you had kids yet? What will life be like once kids go off to college? The people in your life (or who will be in your life) should be huge deciding factor with regard to your consideration of a pet.

Pets aren't accessories: They're living, breathing beings who require serious consideration at all stages of their life. They count on you to provide not only for their basic needs to survive, but also for companionship, enrichment and fun to keep them whole.

So, after all of that — do you still think that the idea of a pet as holiday gift is a swell idea?

Lorrie Shaw is owner of Professional Pet Sitting, and a regular contributor to AnnArbor.com's pet section. She wrote the popular piece "Saving your pets life in a poisoning emergency - the basics". Reach her via e-mail and follow her pet adventures on twitter @psa2.

Comments

Lorry Schlick

Sun, Nov 13, 2011 : 7:17 p.m.

This is really a great article and way too many puppies and kittens given as gifts on Christmas or during the holiday season often end up in shelters and are euthanized for all the reasons written above. But I also want to add that puppies and specific breed kittens (eg: Bengals) that are sold in pet stores (where most of these holiday puppy and kitten purchases come from) originate from comercial kennels. These are breeding operations, just like factories, where the parents suffer 24/7 till they die or are killed at a young age when their breeding numbers go down. No vet care, never get out of their wire cage, minimum food, neglect and abuse! The ASPCA and HSUS estimate that 99% of dogs in pet stores come from puppy mills. Buying pups and kittens on the internet is the same deal....all are mill animals. Please, please adopt and never shop for companion pets! Even the small mammals are available for adoption at your local SPCA or perhaps a shelter that takes in these little guys. Lorry Schlick President citizensagainstpuppymills.org "Puppies in the store, walk out the door!"

robyn

Thu, Dec 23, 2010 : 12:34 p.m.

@ Slider - I don't know if that post was meant to be funny... But I nearly choked on my coffee... LOL! I can't imagine a special gift giving occasion without a dead animal in a box. You'd probably have to know a person really well to give them a gift like that. Can't imagine the psychological implications it might cause for children though...

Slider

Wed, Dec 22, 2010 : 12:34 p.m.

If you really must give an animal as a gift, I suggest taxidermy. Taxidermed animals require neither time, attention, nor money. They are safe with children and do not need to be trained. A well-placed piece of taxidermy can really bring a room to life. Don't just settle for mounting it over a fireplace, etc. Consider placing taxidermy in other settings in your home--a bird perched atop a doorway, or a kitten curled up at the end of your davenport will delight you and your guests for years to come, and you'll never need to worry about costly veterinary bills, or caring for them during vacations!

jns131

Tue, Dec 21, 2010 : 10:57 a.m.

People don't realize that animals are expensive. When ours hit 10 she ended up on K-D diet. This is a specialized diet for dogs with kidney ailments. Then she had a stroke, failing eyesite and a whole host of other ailments that ended up in us the corner with the euthanize debate. I see how much an animal will cost us. OK, a mouse isn't going to be that much, but still, when you tally the costs with two dogs per year and then if anything goes wrong during that year? It does add up. Our first was a challenge and she died 4 years ago in June at age 13. Our other two? No major medical challenges yet. But it does happen. If you choose to adopt? Tally the fact of heartworm meds, shots every three years and spay or neuter. Can be cheap or it can be expensive. Just like having a 5 year old in the house for 15 plus years. Remember this, it is a life time commitment.

robyn

Tue, Dec 21, 2010 : 12:32 a.m.

@ True: We have a field mouse that was 9 as of mid November and she's still around - running on her wheel every day... The cat 'gave her to us' as a gift in 2001. Apparently there is no expiration date for the comittment we have to our pets.

robyn

Tue, Dec 21, 2010 : 12:25 a.m.

Maybe it's just my opinion - but the holidays are usually not the best time to bring a new pet into the house - especially a 'baby'. There is so much commotion and activity. Puppies and kittens require sleep and a 'schedule' just like small children do. Potty training a puppy can be just as frustrating as it is with a child, with so much going on it's very hard to do the potty training AND everything else that demands your attention during the holidays. A lot of times the animals that become neglected - relegated to the outdoors or surrendered to the shelter are those that were never properly potty trained and the owner is frustrated and just doesn't want the dog (or sometimes the cat) or the mess anymore. It's a wonderful thing to adopt a new furry member into your family - especially when you adopt from a shelter or rescue. But remember - animals bond and they do love you - if you or your family are not totally prepared to make that kind of committment -wait until you are ready. There will ALWAYS be wonderful and loving pets that will be happy to join your family.

breadman

Mon, Dec 20, 2010 : 7:29 p.m.

Very good write up!!! I have a very good dog, she (now it) was bottled fed at three days old, mother rejected her, She eats with me, sleeps, naps very good walker on her leash. And I have about 1,000. in two years tied up in her. Very gentle becsuae I was able too start at a young age.. I love my friend and she always is by my side!!!

John Spieser

Mon, Dec 20, 2010 : 3:54 p.m.

Once again, thank you Lorrie for writing this! I always tell parents that you never get a dog for your kids. You get a dog for yourself and teach your kids (by example) how to be an exemplary caregiver. Your article is poignant and thorough. I am glad that you didn't pull any punches regarding the commitment to owning an animal of any kind. We live in a throw away society and unfortunately pets get included in that mentatility. The statistics are horrifying!

Angela

Mon, Dec 20, 2010 : 1:40 p.m.

Thank you for writing this. It is saddening that so many people buy pets for their loved ones during the holidays and then get rid of them in the new year due to their lack of understanding of the work required to raise such pet. Your insight is a great tool for one to use and there are also websites that can help you see which pet would be most suited for your lifestyle. Thanks again for writing, this should be reiterated every year.

TrueBlue90

Mon, Dec 20, 2010 : 1:27 p.m.

I'm glad you wrote this article. Over the years, I've seen too many instances of parents buying pets for their children, and then the pets becoming totally neglected (by both the kids and the parents). Glad you mentioned exotic and pocket pets, also. Rabbits can live up to ten years or more, and I once had a guinea pig who passed away at age nine.

Glenn

Mon, Dec 20, 2010 : 1:07 a.m.

Buying a puppy without problems is harder than most people think. Finding a responsible and knowledgeable breeder is very difficult. www.howtobuyapuppy.net If you are set on buying a puppy please download and read, How To Buy A Puppy before you consider parting with your money. It is free at www.howtobuyapuppy.net