A puppy under the Christmas Tree - is there anything cuter? How about a poodle with pink bows for grandma? While the intention may be good, truth be told the idea of giving pets as gifts is not a good one.
Many shelters now are offering ill-advised discount prices and stores that still sell animals (really?) are having "specials," so people who usually have better sense seem to think it's a good idea to give animals away as gifts.
The reality is that giving an animal as a gift is a terrible idea. The return rate on gifted animals to shelters is very high, and worse yet is an unwanted animal destined to a life in a backyard with little or no attention, eventually cast aside along with other unwanted gifts - or left to suffer an even worse fate.
It is almost impossible to choose a pet for another person. The "giftee" may not feel a connection with the chosen pet (or maybe the pet won't feel a connection with them).
Give a shelter gift certificate instead. All shelters now offer them. This way the giftee and the animal can feel the warmth and excitement of the choice. They can start to form a real bond, not a bond forced upon them. A bond that will last a lifetime.
And that's Wednesday's Woof.
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