Why you shouldn’t buy a pet as a present this holiday season

With the holidays only three weeks away, some of you may be thinking of buying a cute little puppy or kitten for your partner or child as a surprise, but that might be a bad idea.  Surprising anyone with a puppy or a kitten on Christmas sounds like it’d be a fun or romantic idea, but you shouldn’t buy a pet for someone who hasn’t expressed a consistent interest in getting a new pet.

Sure, the recipient might be extremely excited and happy with their new pet, but unless the recipient is entirely committed to the idea of raising their new furry friend, that joyfulness can end in a hurry.

The holidays are extremely busy for most households, in addition to the usual routine work, school, and extracurriculars, the festivities mean even more things will draw you away from home, or divert your attention from the furry friend you’ve invited into your home.

Your new family member doesn’t deserve to be introduced to a brand new, slightly scary environment in the midst of chaos. It’s in everyone’s favour to wait for a less hectic time of year to bring home a new dog, cat or other pet.

According to windsorhumane.org, the Humane Society discourages people from adopting pets as gifts. A pet is a long term commitment and the pet you choose might not be the pet the recipient would choose for themselves.

In the end, there’s nothing wrong with you adding a dog to your family during the holiday season, as long as you have planned for it properly far in advance. It’s best you make a thoughtful decision and not an impulsive one, the holidays are a notorious time for last-minute impulse buys!