Christmas Pets
Maybe your children have everything and you're trying to think of a gift that will really excite them. Or maybe they've been BEGGING for a new puppy, and Christmas seems like a good time. Not to mention, it's about time they learned some responsibility, and a pet would be good for them, right?Maybe not ...
Remember that a pet isn't just a gift for Christmas, that can be enjoyed and put away when the excitement wears off. A kitten may be with your family for the next 15 or 20 years, while a puppy, depending on the breed, can live 8 to 14 years or so. They will need feeding, cleaning up after, attention, training, medical care, and much more for all of that time. And if you are considering a small caged pet or an aquarium instead, to cut down on the commitment, remember that even these pets will needing feeding and cleaning, and many caged pets still need attention.
Before you add a new member to the family, be sure that you can afford the commitment of time. And of money ... remember initial cost, supplies, ongoing feeding, toys, care during your vacation, veterinary costs, etc.
If you DO decide that you do want to add a pet to your family in the near future, first please consider very carefully whether Christmas is the time to do it. Most households have a lot of excitement and bustle going on, which doesn't leave a lot of uninterrupted time for a new pet. The pet will not understand the usual household routine either, if Christmas is very different from the norm. Also, typical holiday decorations are very tempting to pets, and potentially dangerous (not to mention, do you really want your favorite ornaments chewed to tiny bits?).
If you are going to be home, and not expecting lots of visitors, Christmas CAN be a good time to add a new pet to the family. This just won't be the case in most homes. If you do decide to add a new family pet, consider adopting from animal shelters and give the gift of life to a pet that might otherwise be on death row. While not usually free, the cost from a shelter will often include spay/neuter, which is a good idea for almost all pets in order to prevent unwanted litters.
If you really want to delight your children with a new pet, but realize that the holidays are not the best time to add a new family member, consider giving pet supplies as a gift instead, along with a promise of choosing a pet AFTER Christmas when things have settled down a bit. Including a book is a good choice, so the children can read about pets before choosing one, and it also helps to motivate them to use books to study something they are interested in.
It's also great fun for the children to be involved in selecting their own pet, which they will miss out on if one is gifted to them on Christmas as a surprise.
