Don’t bite off more than you can chew when giving animals as
holiday gifts
– particularly to young children
By Julie Englehardt Special to South Valley Newspapers
There are just a few days left until the gift giving begins, and most people are probably done with their shopping, sitting back, enjoying the sights and sounds of the holidays.
Then there are others who are still scrambling to find that perfect present. Dozens of thoughts race through our heads as to what we can buy. One of them might be, “Why not buy a new pet for the family?” Although popping a cute little pooch in a box and tying it with a bright red bow might seem like the perfect idea, there are some things to bear in mind before bringing home a new Fido, Fluffy or Fifi. Long-time pet owners and animal experts advise you to do your homework before adding a new four-legged member to your family.
The first thing to consider is the time and effort needed when it comes to caring for a pet, especially when buying the animal for your child. Ultimately, it will be the adult’s responsibility to make sure that the animal is cared for, but it’s never too early to start teaching your children how to be concerned for another living creature.
Tami Erickson of Hollister recently adopted a cat from the Hollister Animal Shelter for her 4-year old son, Logan. His older sister already has a cat, so Erickson decided she’d buy one for him a little before Christmas. But pet ownership at the Erickson household comes with some very specific rules.
“My daughter has her list of chores, from feeding the cat daily to brushing it once a week,” said Erickson. “We came to an agreement that if she wanted to have a pet, she’d have to keep an eye on it.” The same rules applied to Logan before Erickson would make the commitment to go to the shelter. “I told him that he’d have to do the same things for his cat that his sister does for hers, or we wouldn’t even get one.”
Second, acquiring a pet should not be an impulse decision. Although cats, dogs and other creatures may hook you with their cute faces or interesting characteristics, it’s wise to do your research. For example, if you’re interested in a particular breed of dog, take the time to visit dog shows and talk with breeders. They will have first-hand knowledge of how well a particular breed will do with your living situation.
Hollister resident Sylvia Hoyte wanted to buy a dog for her family because she loved dogs and had them as pets when she was a child. But the only problem was that her oldest son was allergic to dogs, so she had to find a type of dog that wouldn’t shed. They eventually decided upon a Havanese.
“We looked online and did our research to find a breed of dog that wouldn’t aggravate my son’s allergies,” said Hoyte. They finally found a breeder in Utah, and had the dog shipped to them about three weeks ago. “It’s been great. My son loves the dog, plus he doesn’t sneeze and have any type of reaction when the dog is around.”
Third, think about the family dynamics when purchasing a pet. Some pets are great with kids while others are not.
“A large, rambunctious dog that can knock down children or a large bird that may bite small fingers are not good choices when you have small children around,” said Curt Moran, DVM, of the Family Pet Care Center in Hollister.
“Small children will do better with a kitten, small-breed dog, small bird or even a reptile,” said Moran. “But also know that some of the smaller dogs can be fearful and bite children, especially if the dog is an adult and hasn’t been socialized around children.”
Other factors to think about include such things as how long is the owner gone from the home during the day? If you’re gone a lot, then a dog or bird is probably not the best pet for you. They require much more attention than a cat or reptile might.
“Many dogs end up left outside and ignored or turned into animal shelters because they develop bad behaviors from being left alone too much,” said Moran. “Birds often become screamers or pick their feathers because they aren’t getting the attention they need. They are ‘flock’ animals and as such, need to have close interaction.”
Finally, take into consideration the size of your pet and the size of your home. Animals need to have an area where they can exercise and play. Even personnel at animal shelters will discuss these issues, plus others, with you before adopting out an animal.
“If you have a small apartment, it wouldn’t be too wise to adopt a dog like a Siberian Husky,” said Greg Van Wassenhove, director of agriculture and environmental management for Santa Clara County. “It’s our goal to make sure that we don’t have a high return rate of animals once they’re adopted out. In fact, we have a very low return rate because we do take the potential owners through an interview process before they take possession of their new pet.”
In the end, it’s in the best interest of the animal, as well as the family, to think about what it would be like to have an animal at home before running to the store or shelter to get one. Depending upon the type of animal you have, they could be with your family for many years to come.
