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'Tis The Season
Dec. 11th, 2009 06:09 pmAs I mentioned in my last post, the holidays are rapidly approaching. And that means that people are buying presents of all sorts and shapes and sizes. And, in my professional field, it means that it's time for my annual beating-head-against-the-wall frustration as I realize that I should have told people something over a month ago, if only they would have been listening.
Pets make lousy presents.
No, that's not stating it strongly enough. Pets make HORRIBLE presents. Do not give pets as presents. Just don't.
I know I'm most likely preaching to the choir here, but I need to get this out of my system, and who knows; maybe someone will read this who hasn't heard me rant about it half a dozen times before.
Adopting a pet is a huge commitment. You are agreeing to be responsible for another living being for its entire life. That is not something to spring on another person, even if they've told you they want it. If your offspring/significant other/roommate/best friend really wants a pet, and you want to give them one as a gift, get them a card and make a pretty little IOU certificate for One Pet Of Your Choice, to be chosen together at a time of their choosing. Not only does that mean that they get to pick out the critter they want, it means that they can do it at a time that works for them, when they have the energy and resources and space and funds to give that pet the love and care and attention that they need.
Speaking of offspring and pets - if your kid wants a pet, think hard. In particular, think about whether *you* also want that pet. I don't care how mature and responsible and reasonable your child is; no child can be counted on to take full care of a pet. I'm sure there are one or two who will actually do it, but you can't assume that any one will. No matter how much they swear and promise that they will walk that puppy every day and feed it and train it and love it, the shine will wear off in a few weeks, just like every other new toy, and then you will be the one training and feeding and petting it. And cleaning up after it pees in the house. And giving it its flea and tick medication, and taking it to the vet for its ear infections, and paying for it to be spayed or neutered.
That's another thing. Kids can't pay the vet bills. And there will be vet bills, and other expenses. Free pets aren't free. When you give a pet as a gift, you're also giving a gift of somewhere between 3 and 20 years of health care expenses. For dogs and cats, that includes vaccines, flea and tick and heartworm preventives, annual checkups, spaying/neutering, dental care, food, training, litter, toys, and a whole host of other things, but even for mice or guinea pigs or ferrets there are costs - cages, bedding, food, toys, and yes, eventually, veterinary care. Can the person you're giving the pet to commit to those expenses? If not, you're not doing them a favor by buying them a pet.
If your kids really desperately want a pet that badly, give them the gift of a day volunteering at an animal shelter. Or ask the shelter if they need foster homes for new animals - that's a way to get a pet for a little while, then pass it on when it transitions from 'exciting new toy' to 'boring source of work.' Heck - for the price of a new purebred puppy and three years of vet care, take your kids to Disney's Animal Kingdom for a long weekend and spring for the safari tickets.
And if, after all of this, you really, really, really must buy someone a pet as a holiday gift, at least go into it with your eyes open. Plan in advance. Talk to your vet - or if you don't have a vet yet, call one at random. We don't yell or bite, I promise, and we'll be much happier to work with you in advance than we will be to do damage control after the fact. Tell the vet what the situation is, and ask their advice on whether the kind of animal you want to get is a good match for the gift recipient - the ideal pet for a six-year-old is likely to be very different from the ideal pet for your 65-year-old empty nester great aunt. Ask us what to expect in expenses for the first year of the pet's life, and what sort of supplies you should have on hand when you give it, so you're not left trying to find an open store that sells litter boxes or hamster food on Christmas day. Ask us what the time commitment for the new owner is going to be.
But honestly, please, if you're thinking of buying a pet for someone as a holiday gift.... just buy them a video game system instead. It'll cost less in the long run, won't soil your rugs, and is significantly less likely to suffer and die if the giftee gets bored and stuffs it in their closet after a month or two, never to play with it again.
Pets make lousy presents.
No, that's not stating it strongly enough. Pets make HORRIBLE presents. Do not give pets as presents. Just don't.
I know I'm most likely preaching to the choir here, but I need to get this out of my system, and who knows; maybe someone will read this who hasn't heard me rant about it half a dozen times before.
Adopting a pet is a huge commitment. You are agreeing to be responsible for another living being for its entire life. That is not something to spring on another person, even if they've told you they want it. If your offspring/significant other/roommate/best friend really wants a pet, and you want to give them one as a gift, get them a card and make a pretty little IOU certificate for One Pet Of Your Choice, to be chosen together at a time of their choosing. Not only does that mean that they get to pick out the critter they want, it means that they can do it at a time that works for them, when they have the energy and resources and space and funds to give that pet the love and care and attention that they need.
Speaking of offspring and pets - if your kid wants a pet, think hard. In particular, think about whether *you* also want that pet. I don't care how mature and responsible and reasonable your child is; no child can be counted on to take full care of a pet. I'm sure there are one or two who will actually do it, but you can't assume that any one will. No matter how much they swear and promise that they will walk that puppy every day and feed it and train it and love it, the shine will wear off in a few weeks, just like every other new toy, and then you will be the one training and feeding and petting it. And cleaning up after it pees in the house. And giving it its flea and tick medication, and taking it to the vet for its ear infections, and paying for it to be spayed or neutered.
That's another thing. Kids can't pay the vet bills. And there will be vet bills, and other expenses. Free pets aren't free. When you give a pet as a gift, you're also giving a gift of somewhere between 3 and 20 years of health care expenses. For dogs and cats, that includes vaccines, flea and tick and heartworm preventives, annual checkups, spaying/neutering, dental care, food, training, litter, toys, and a whole host of other things, but even for mice or guinea pigs or ferrets there are costs - cages, bedding, food, toys, and yes, eventually, veterinary care. Can the person you're giving the pet to commit to those expenses? If not, you're not doing them a favor by buying them a pet.
If your kids really desperately want a pet that badly, give them the gift of a day volunteering at an animal shelter. Or ask the shelter if they need foster homes for new animals - that's a way to get a pet for a little while, then pass it on when it transitions from 'exciting new toy' to 'boring source of work.' Heck - for the price of a new purebred puppy and three years of vet care, take your kids to Disney's Animal Kingdom for a long weekend and spring for the safari tickets.
And if, after all of this, you really, really, really must buy someone a pet as a holiday gift, at least go into it with your eyes open. Plan in advance. Talk to your vet - or if you don't have a vet yet, call one at random. We don't yell or bite, I promise, and we'll be much happier to work with you in advance than we will be to do damage control after the fact. Tell the vet what the situation is, and ask their advice on whether the kind of animal you want to get is a good match for the gift recipient - the ideal pet for a six-year-old is likely to be very different from the ideal pet for your 65-year-old empty nester great aunt. Ask us what to expect in expenses for the first year of the pet's life, and what sort of supplies you should have on hand when you give it, so you're not left trying to find an open store that sells litter boxes or hamster food on Christmas day. Ask us what the time commitment for the new owner is going to be.
But honestly, please, if you're thinking of buying a pet for someone as a holiday gift.... just buy them a video game system instead. It'll cost less in the long run, won't soil your rugs, and is significantly less likely to suffer and die if the giftee gets bored and stuffs it in their closet after a month or two, never to play with it again.
