To Gift or Not to Gift
The image of a cute puppy or kitten stumbling out from beneath the tree on Christmas morning to meet their new family is irresistibly adorable. While shelters have struggled in the past against those who look to get puppies and kittens as gifts around the holidays, pets can actually make great gifts, if everyone is properly prepared and involved.
Paws-on Present
An issue that many people who decide to get pets as presents face is trying to keep it a surprise. Everyone loves sharing in the joy of a surprise that lands perfectly, but it's more important to be prepared when it comes to pets.
At JAR, adoption includes a meet-and-greet with the animal the applicant is interested in order to ensure its a good match. When a pet is going to join a family, we like to have as much of the family as possible involved in the meet-and-greet so the pet has a chance to meet everyone living in the home and vice versa. While some dogs may be mellow around adults, they might be too energetic for young children, and some cats who adore gentle affection may be too shy for a family home. Meeting a pet before adopting ensures that if there is an obvious bad fit, we can avoid sending a dog or cat to a home that is not ideal, and help the applicant find a more fitting pet, if there is one available for adoption.
Sacrificing the surprise may be unsatisfying, but having your family, partner, or friend involved in the adoption process will not only help them prepare, but will be a special memory for them, as you enjoy your new furry friend for years to come!
Picking A Pet
Whether you're planning to get a pet for yourself or a loved one, the first question to ask is what are you (or the people primarily caring for the pet) capable of committing to? Each pet has unique needs, and it's important to plan ahead for the best chance at success.
Dogs are often among the most time-intensive pets. They require daily exercise to remain physically and mentally healthy, time for attention and play, and space to rest and live comfortably. If getting a dog, research available breeds in advance to get a feel for their specific needs and personalities; some dogs are very intelligent and don't do well with kenneling for long periods, while others may be content with a puzzle toy in a kennel while left alone for a while. Some breeds are more prone to nipping, and may be less suited to family life. Understanding the breeds you might be interested in will help facilitate a better match and limit trial and error when meeting adoptable dogs.
Cats can be more independent and often do better with long periods alone than dogs. For a family, couple, or individual that is often away from home, a cat may be a better fit than a dog. The personality of a cat has a range that often depends on the breed and even gender. Even if you're not sure exactly what type of cat you're looking for, having a good understanding of the home environment they'll be in and the qualities you're looking for can help facilitate a conversation with shelters to find the right fit.
Small animals have a range of needs. While many are less time-intensive than dogs and cats, such as snakes, they still have important care requirements to live a happy and healthy life. Shelters often see small animals that are relinquished because they were given to a child as a first pet or a test of responsibility. While this is often seen as an acceptable way for kids to learn to care for pets, it can easily lead to mistreatment of the animal and abandonment at shelters.
Age is also an important factor: puppies and kittens require constant care and a safe environment to live and learn what is and is not okay to play with, climb on, chew, eat, and where to eliminate. Baby animals require attentive nutrition, in-home and professional training, appropriate exercise for their age and development stage, and regular medical care. Adult pets have often already been house-trained and fixed, so there are fewer hoops to jump through and a somewhat less watchful eye is required.
Family Pets
If you are considering getting a pet for your children, have a care plan in place, with the expectation that, while the child may be able to help, they should not be expected to be the only caretaker. Involving your children in a discussion to create a care plan that they can have a part in is a great way to share the responsibility of pet ownership while ensuring the pet has a happy and healthy life as part of the family.
Before getting a family pet, be sure to research care and setup requirements. Children can be involved in preparation, if they're able to help research care from reputable websites, such as ASPCA for dogs and cats, RSPCA for rodents, and Reptiles Magazine for reptiles.
It is also important to know that "getting rid" of a pet is not a good solution to dealing with a lack of attention from children that have been tasked with caring for the animal. Relinquishing a pet to a shelter is a stressful event for a pet and is often more of a punishment for them than for the child. A family pet should be exactly that: a part of your family, whose care and love are shared.
The image of a cute puppy or kitten stumbling out from beneath the tree on Christmas morning to meet their new family is irresistibly adorable. While shelters have struggled in the past against those who look to get puppies and kittens as gifts around the holidays, pets can actually make great gifts, if everyone is properly prepared and involved.
Paws-on Present
An issue that many people who decide to get pets as presents face is trying to keep it a surprise. Everyone loves sharing in the joy of a surprise that lands perfectly, but it's more important to be prepared when it comes to pets.
At JAR, adoption includes a meet-and-greet with the animal the applicant is interested in order to ensure its a good match. When a pet is going to join a family, we like to have as much of the family as possible involved in the meet-and-greet so the pet has a chance to meet everyone living in the home and vice versa. While some dogs may be mellow around adults, they might be too energetic for young children, and some cats who adore gentle affection may be too shy for a family home. Meeting a pet before adopting ensures that if there is an obvious bad fit, we can avoid sending a dog or cat to a home that is not ideal, and help the applicant find a more fitting pet, if there is one available for adoption.
Sacrificing the surprise may be unsatisfying, but having your family, partner, or friend involved in the adoption process will not only help them prepare, but will be a special memory for them, as you enjoy your new furry friend for years to come!
Picking A Pet
Whether you're planning to get a pet for yourself or a loved one, the first question to ask is what are you (or the people primarily caring for the pet) capable of committing to? Each pet has unique needs, and it's important to plan ahead for the best chance at success.
Dogs are often among the most time-intensive pets. They require daily exercise to remain physically and mentally healthy, time for attention and play, and space to rest and live comfortably. If getting a dog, research available breeds in advance to get a feel for their specific needs and personalities; some dogs are very intelligent and don't do well with kenneling for long periods, while others may be content with a puzzle toy in a kennel while left alone for a while. Some breeds are more prone to nipping, and may be less suited to family life. Understanding the breeds you might be interested in will help facilitate a better match and limit trial and error when meeting adoptable dogs.
Cats can be more independent and often do better with long periods alone than dogs. For a family, couple, or individual that is often away from home, a cat may be a better fit than a dog. The personality of a cat has a range that often depends on the breed and even gender. Even if you're not sure exactly what type of cat you're looking for, having a good understanding of the home environment they'll be in and the qualities you're looking for can help facilitate a conversation with shelters to find the right fit.
Small animals have a range of needs. While many are less time-intensive than dogs and cats, such as snakes, they still have important care requirements to live a happy and healthy life. Shelters often see small animals that are relinquished because they were given to a child as a first pet or a test of responsibility. While this is often seen as an acceptable way for kids to learn to care for pets, it can easily lead to mistreatment of the animal and abandonment at shelters.
Age is also an important factor: puppies and kittens require constant care and a safe environment to live and learn what is and is not okay to play with, climb on, chew, eat, and where to eliminate. Baby animals require attentive nutrition, in-home and professional training, appropriate exercise for their age and development stage, and regular medical care. Adult pets have often already been house-trained and fixed, so there are fewer hoops to jump through and a somewhat less watchful eye is required.
Family Pets
If you are considering getting a pet for your children, have a care plan in place, with the expectation that, while the child may be able to help, they should not be expected to be the only caretaker. Involving your children in a discussion to create a care plan that they can have a part in is a great way to share the responsibility of pet ownership while ensuring the pet has a happy and healthy life as part of the family.
Before getting a family pet, be sure to research care and setup requirements. Children can be involved in preparation, if they're able to help research care from reputable websites, such as ASPCA for dogs and cats, RSPCA for rodents, and Reptiles Magazine for reptiles.
It is also important to know that "getting rid" of a pet is not a good solution to dealing with a lack of attention from children that have been tasked with caring for the animal. Relinquishing a pet to a shelter is a stressful event for a pet and is often more of a punishment for them than for the child. A family pet should be exactly that: a part of your family, whose care and love are shared.