Pets as Presents - By: Neven Zeremski

With several public holidays coming up this Fall, many people might be thinking of getting their family and friends a pet as a gift. In the UK, the slogan ‘a dog is for life, not just for Christmas’ is well known, but every year thousands of pets end up being given away or even neglected because they are an unwanted present. If you’re thinking of getting someone you know a pet as a gift in the next few months, there are a few things to consider before making the decision.

1. Lifestyle: does the person you’re thinking of have a suitable lifestyle for the pet you have in mind? Dogs and cats both need a lot of attention, walking and care. If the recipient is out of the house all day, these might not be good pets for them. On the other hand, something like a hamster is perfect as, although they still require food and play, they sleep during the day. Think about the kind of activity your friend or family member enjoys. For instance, if they are a keen runner then a more active dog might provide them with a jogging companion.

2. The pet’s lifespan: This is often overlooked when a pet is bought as a present. If you know a 15 year-old who desperately wants a puppy, bear in mind that they might be disappearing to college in three or four years, leaving their parents to look after an energetic young dog. While smaller animals generally have shorter life-spans (between 1 and 6 years), animals like dogs and cats can live to 15 years plus. That’s 15 years of buying food, making time to play with and walk them and many years of vet’s bills. If you don’t think your friend or family member is going to appreciate that kind of commitment in the long-term, then it might be best to check with them first rather than just surprising them on the day.

3. Age of recipient: If you are thinking of giving a pet to a child then there are extra factors to take into consideration. Ultimately, they will probably not know how to take care of the pet properly at first which will require time and teaching from their parents. It won’t spoil the surprise to check with their parents first and ask them if the time commitment is ok with them.

4. Personality: Think carefully about the personality of the family member or friend you have in mind. Are they going to be patient, kind and tolerant when they are woken up at 2am by a hungry kitten? The personality of the pet is also important – some pet owners can find a bouncy, energetic puppy too demanding and will be better suited to a smaller, more placid breed of dog. There is plenty of information available online and in breeding books on the different kinds of personality that come with each breed of pet.

Giving a pet as a present is a risk. Ideally, it is better to check with the recipient first and make sure they are comfortable with the commitment. Although it won’t be as much of a surprise then, at least you will know that the animal will be taken care of properly.

With several public holidays coming up this Fall, many people might be thinking of getting their family and friends a pet as a gift. In the UK, the slogan ‘a dog is for life, not just for Christmas’ is well known, but every year thousands of pets end up being given away or even neglected because they are an unwanted present. If you’re thinking of getting someone you know a pet as a gift in the next few months, there are a few things to consider before making the decision.

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