Pets as Presents:

Whether it’s someone’s birthday or an annual holiday, nothing says love like giving a pet as a present. Or does it?

You may have visions of giving or even receiving an adorable little puppy with a big red bow around its collar however there are several guidelines to think about as you consider giving a pet as a present.

First, there are several questions which need to be considered as pet presents such as the age of children in the household. After all, different pets are appropriate for different ages. A small child may beg and plead for a kitten but they may not be ready to understand responsibilities that go along with it. Since the child needs to be aware they’re not just an animated toy but rather an animal that needs to be groomed and cared for, it’s best to not give them a pet as a present until they’re ready to understand their responsibility. Note: for the small age for instance of four years old experts recommend a guinea pig instead.

While you may want to shower your child or niece or nephew for example with a pet present, yet not all children may want it. Although they may play well with your pet or relative’s pets, they may not have expressed they’re interested in it. Furthermore, their parents may not appreciate it either so it’s best to consult with them as well.

One major consideration is the cost. People may be focused on the affection factor that they forget about the wallet factor. For instance, past the initial fee you would pay to adopt the pet there are a lifetime of bills associated with the pet ranging from veterinarian visits to vaccinations to food.

Plus, this is a gift that lasts a lifetime (well, almost). When considering to give a pet as a present, consider the age of your recipient and the fact that cats live at least fifteen years for example. That said, if you decide after much contemplation and research that your recipient is ready to receive the pet as a present, there are several fun items to consider. For instance, which type of pet are you going to get? Which breed? Which size of the animal? What type of housing situation does your recipient live in (for instance, house in the country or city apartment?) Where will you purchase the pet? According to the ASCPA every year less than twenty percent of dogs in shelters become adopted. Adopting a dog at a shelter to give as a pet present essentially breathes new life into it.

Next, do you want to surprise the recipient or simply give the pet as a present with a bow around it? That depends on the situation but for the abovementioned reasons you’ll want to do all of your homework before realizing after the fact that giving this particular gift was not a good idea. After all, some people enjoy playing with other’s people’s pets without having the responsibility of actually taking care of it. Others simply adore pets with the full responsibilities that go along with it.