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Is a Pet the Perfect Holiday Present?

by Theresa Carpine12/17/2008 2:16:50 PM

Think about the impact that a holiday pet will have on your whole family.

Picture it. The kids wake up on Christmas morning. You hear them scurry out into the hall. “It’s Christmas!” they cheer as they burst into your room to help you throw off the covers and pull you out of bed. They stampede down the stairs and you hear their joyful squeals when they discover a puppy waiting obediently under the tree with a big, red bow tied to its collar.

Sounds too good to be true? Well, then, it probably is. In reality, the scene would probably include shreds of wrapping paper that the puppy has strew about the living room, at least one child lamenting that they really wanted a kitten or a pony (or both), and a few extra “presents” from Fido under the tree.

If you’re thinking of surprising your kids with a holiday pet, please take the time to read the following points before making your decision.

Pets are Not Toys

Think back to last Christmas. Does the doll or video game your child just couldn’t live without still captivate their attention? Unlike a toy, a pet can’t make its home at the bottom of the toy box until your next Goodwill run. If you discover that a pet doesn’t suit your life, a lot of disappointment can arise from this well-intentioned Christmas gift. You’ll also have the hassle of finding another home for the animal, or you'll need to face the decision to abandon the pet at a shelter. The same considerations should be made if you’re thinking of giving Easter bunnies or chicks to the kids in the spring.

Pets Come with Responsibilities

Is your child ready to take care of a pet?

Pets are a lot of work, especially puppies and kittens because they require more training. When a child is simply given a pet as a gift, they might be more resistant to taking responsibility for daily pet chores. And pet columnist Gina Spadafori points out that winter is a really bad time of year to housetrain a puppy because of the cold weather and the extended hours of darkness. What child (or grown-up, for that matter) is going to want to take the dog for a walk in those conditions?

Involve Kids in the Pet-Picking Process

If you believe your child is ready for a dog (or another animal), involve them in the process of picking out the newest member of your family instead of surprising them on Christmas morning. Do research online or at the library about various types of pets and breeds, contact a local veterinarian for their opinion on what animal might best suit your family, and visit local pet stores and shelters. Maybe you should even require that the child save up their allowance money to help pay for adoption and licensing fees. When kids feel like they have had “a say” in choosing the pet, they’ll form a deeper attachment to the animal before you bring it home and embrace the opportunity to take care of the pet.

And Just So You Don't Think I'm a Complete Scrooge...

If you’d still like the kids to have a Christmas surprise, Jelena Woehr of PetLvr.com recommends wrapping up a package filled with pet supplies for them to open in the morning. You can do your pet research during the rest of the winter and plan on getting a dog in the early spring, when weather conditions are more favorable for training an active puppy.

Local Pet Resources

Alternative Humane Society of Whatcom County (no kill shelter)
Bellingham Veterinary
Hohl Feed & Seed
Whatcom Humane Society

A Note About the Author: Theresa Carpine

Theresa Carpine graduated from WWU in 2006 with a BA in English Literature. She enjoys yoga, listening to music, riding her bike in downtown Bellingham, and babysitting really cute kids.