The BC SPCA’s Prince Rupert branch is advising against giving animals as holiday presents, saying the excitement of Christmas morning can be overwhelming for pets.
Getting a pet for Christmas may seem like a joyful surprise, especially for children, but it requires significant preparation and responsibility, said branch manager Kristy Maier.
“Gifting an animal can be done respectfully if it was organized well beforehand and the family was ready to bring in an animal. But the problem comes when it’s Christmas morning, and the puppy or the kitty cat comes home and there’s the all-around excitement. So all the little kids are excited and the parents are excited, and it’s so much excitement that it overwhelms the animal.”
There are better ways to gift a new pet for Christmas such as gifting a new collar as a promise that you will get a new dog, said Maier.
“It is a much better idea to adopt after the Christmas break. So if families are wanting an animal, perhaps they just put in their Christmas box that they’re going to get a cat or a dog, and then afterwards they can come to the SPCA when Christmas season is over with their kids or their family and pick out the ideal animal for them.”
