When you are making your Christmas gift list, don’t forget your pets (even if most cats and dogs would rather have balls of wrapping paper and the empty boxes than expensive toys).   But I would ask you to think twice about giving a pet for Christmas.

Today, I visited a local animal shelter, the Washington Animal Rescue League.  It’s a gorgeous facility, very clean and light and airy and the animals all go to wonderful homes.  (I was there to donate some things I had left when I lost my beautiful Elf Puppy.  That’s her picture in the blog profile. She was a little bit spoiled — rather like Santa is a little bit jolly.)   

That visit made me think about the animals who end up in shelters.  I wonder how many of these very sweet cats and dogs started as Christmas gifts and outgrew their novelty or cuteness.  A pet isn’t like other Christmas gifts.  It’s a living thing that can’t be returned to the store for a different size or given to charity when it no longer fits. 

My guess is that most Christmas pets come from pet stores instead of shelters.  Pet stores exist to make the sale.  The staff isn’t there to make sure you’ve thought through your decision.  If you get a puppy for Christmas, you’ll have to be out in the winter snow and spring rains, housebreaking it.  On top of Christmas bills, there will be vet fees and the ongoing expenses of owning an animal. (For example, in the last 15 months of my Elf Puppy’s life, her vet bills topped the $10,000 mark.  She was totally worth it, but that’s a lot of money.)  You’ll need plans in place to board the dog or cat (or have a pet sitter) if you plan to be out of town for business or vacation.  Pet-proofing a house and bonding with an animal takes time.  I don’t want to discourage people from getting pets because the love of an animal is one of the best things ever, but you do need to be realistic about what pet ownership means.  Most shelters and rescue groups will help you evaluate your readiness for a pet because they are focused on finding animals forever homes, not making a sale.  For that reason, most shelters are not huge fans of Christmas adoptions.

Also, imagine how stressful it is for an animal to BE a Christmas gift.  It is taken from the store or breeder (already stressful) and hidden away for some period of time, only to be wrapped in a bow and placed under a tree surrounded by flashing lights, sparkly things, lots of food smells, and over-excited, loud people.  Too often, they are either forgotten in the crush or get more attention and stimulation than they can handle.  It’s a recipe for disaster.

If you have decided that it’s time for a pet, do the kind thing.  Put some pet toys, a blanket, and a pet bed under the tree, and wait until after the holidays are over to get the pet itself.  If at all possible, please adopt from a shelter.  Shelters are full of beautiful, sweet, cuddly, loving, and playful dogs and cats looking for forever homes.  Let forever start in the new year.