By Nupur Kudapakr
Over 6 million animals enter the shelter each year and during the holiday season, hundreds of thousands of animals are adopted as “presents” and then given up. Dogs, cats, small pets, reptiles, birds, etc. require 10-50 years of commitment financially and emotionally. Holiday advertising and internet videos make it seem like putting a huge red bow-wearing animal under a Christmas tree while emotional music plays in the background is a terrific idea. However, by January, more than half of those animals will join the others back at shelters as the people that “adopted” them realized that having a pet is more work than you think. Even small animals (hamsters, guinea pigs, birds, fish, etc.) have a heartbeat and require care and attention. Ten years ago my family and I adopted 2 birds one of them died but the other one is still with us today. When we got them we had no idea how much responsibility it would be, fresh fruits and veggies, bath time, playtime so they can stretch their wings, etc. Even though they are small, they are living they have a heartbeat which means that they are NOT toys for small children. Small children and even adults should not receive animals as gifts unless they are prepared for the years of commitment. First and foremost, bringing a new animal into your house around the holidays is a terrible idea. Even ordinarily peaceful houses are frequently filled with people conversing and laughing, children playing with loud new toys and games, music playing, doorbells ringing, and other noises. Even for the animals who currently reside there, a house full of guests coming and going and loud noises is frightening—much more so for a shy newcomer. Also, numerous objects that might injure animals, such as ribbons, ornaments, electrical cables, treats, and other meals and drinks, are frequently put within easy reach throughout the Christmas season. People also don’t always have the time to provide the attention and care that newly acquired animals demand. And by January, many shelters are at max capacity trying to get animals out.
According to Peta,
- A shelter in Fargo, North Dakota, reports that in its area, more than 700 animals are turned over to shelters right after the holidays every year.
- An adoption group in tiny Edinburg, Texas, gets more than 400 animals. It says that the surrenders normally start with a phone call from someone saying, “I got this [animal] for Christmas…and I can’t take care of it.”
- A humane society in Reading, Pennsylvania, says that most of its post-Christmas drop-offs are puppies and kittens. They’re dumped soon after the holiday when training them requires too much time.
However, some shelters are catching on,
- An Idaho shelter that sees many animals who were adopted as presents returned after the holidays every year spoke with local news media and urged people not to give animals as surprise gifts.
- A North Carolina adoption group that had noticed that calls were starting by noon on the day after Christmas instituted a policy banning people from acquiring animals to give as gifts.
- A facility in Mississippi started banning all adoptions between December 20 and January 1 after animals were often taken right back.