It’s that time of the year again! We get together and spread the Christmas cheer, with sparkling lights and lovely gifts for near and dear ones. Behind every gift, there is a thought- will the recipient like it? Can they use it? Is it something that they want desperately? If the perfect gift is a pet this Christmas, halt! And think! Before you rush to grant your loved one the pet they have always dreamt about answer a few simple questions.
- Is the future owner of this lovely animal ready to make a commitment spanning years? The average life span of a dog is 11 years and that of a cat is about 13 years! So before you rush into gifting a pet, pause and evaluate if your loved one is willing and capable of making a commitment running into years!
- Having a pet can be expensive. So before gifting a pet, do evaluate if the future owner will be able to afford caring for the animal. Right from pet food to veterinary care, having a pet can mean a significant monetary investment!
- Loving animals does not automatically mean that one is willing or capable of caring for a pet! So if the idea of gifting a pet stems from someone loving animals, it may not be ideal to gift them a pet!
While pets make lovely surprises, do remember that gifting pets impulsively might result in a lot of unnecessary hassles for both the owner and the animal alike! Having said that, there is no denying that a pet can bring great joy to the family. So if you are planning on gifting a loved one a pet, do your research ahead of time!
Here are some other useful articles you can read before making your decision:
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2013/dec/17/giving-pet-present-not-good-idea-experts-say-if-yo/
http://www.petrescue.com/petlibrary/pet-rescue/no-christmas-puppies-please/
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Article by Madhumita Ganapathy
Madhu, having grown up in a household that always had pets, fell in love with animals at a very young age. She firmly believes that until one has loved, nurtured and cared for a pet, one’s life remains incomplete. She loves writing, travelling, and meeting new people. Madhu lives in Stamford and joined STARelief as Social Media Director to lend her marketing expertise in spreading the word and creating awareness. Connect with her on Twitter @MadhuG86
