Is a Pet a Good Gift?
If you’re looking for a clear-cut answer, then I’m sorry to disappoint. The answer is… Sometimes! Most people swear that pets are bad gifts because those pets end up at shelters more often than not. But! That’s only when you give a pet as a gift to someone that isn’t ready to take on the responsibility or who might lose interest in the pet. And this goes for everything from dogs to goldfish!
So how do you combat that? Well, we talked to a couple of animal welfare experts to find out! First and foremost, they recommend erring on the side of caution and not getting someone a pet as a present. But if it really seems like they want one, ask if they want one as a present first and involve the gift recipient in the process of finding and adopting the perfect pet.
Yes, that ruins the whole “surprise” element of opening a box and finding a little kitten, but by having the person go through the trial of finding the perfect pet, they are forging an actual bond that will ensure they don’t lose interest. Plus, it gives you a chance to see how responsible they might be.
Our experts also warned that it is never good to get a pet to “see” how someone will do with it. That goes for big pets like dogs, horses, and cats, as well as smaller pets like guinea pigs, turtles, and axolotls. Moving a pet into a new home is often stressful for the animal and doing it multiple times can significantly diminish a pet’s chance at finding a home. That means, yes, it is bad to have a “backup plan” where you intend to pawn the brand-new pony off on your friend who has a ranch if your loved one can’t take care of it.
And on the subject of axolotls, they are all the rage right now. While they are very timid and easy to care for, they have more rules than the Mogwai from Gremlins.
If you get someone an axolotl, make sure they’re ready to commit, they live for 10-20 years in captivity. They also have really intense needs when it comes to environmental conditions. Our experts suggest that any would-be axolotl adopters should do a lot of research in terms of what kind of tank they need, how to maintain the water, and how often they eat. Here’s a good place to start https://www.axolotlcentral.com/axolotl-care-guide
After our aside on axolotls, the next biggest thing our experts talked about was the hidden factor to pet ownership. The cost.
Pets are expensive! Vet bills, food, and toys all add up. They also cost a lot in terms of time! Puppies need hours of hands-on time. And while cats might be considered the low-maintenance pet everyone craves, they are social creatures and the less attention you pay to them early will lead to an unhappy adult. These are all huge things to consider.
My family got my grandmother a puppy a few years ago and that dog became her best friend. It got her out of the house and walking and it helped her meet more people in her neighborhood. Going from shelter to shelter and helping her find her dog was an amazing bonding experience and everyone in the family really enjoyed it.
On the other hand, I had to rescue a pet hedgehog that my neighbors bought for their son in Vegas as a gift. The poor thing came to me sick, malnourished, and very ill-tempered. It took years to help get him back to health, and even after all that he really only bonded with two people. I loved that little guy, but he was forced onto me without really any consideration if I actually wanted him. And that was stressful! He ended up living a happy long life, and that’s what’s important. But he had a gnarly start that could’ve ended terribly.
So, after all that, if you think a pet is a good gift then, well, check it off your holiday shopping list and enjoy the time you’ll spend with your loved ones while you check local shelters for a new addition to the family. Speaking of which, if you’re looking for a good resource on places to find a pet, check out this guide we wrote on local shelters and parks in San Diego!
And also, I’d be remiss if we didn’t talk briefly about Nationwide Pet Insurance. Nationwide Pet can really help you save some money after you adopt your new best friend. Since a lot of a pet’s vet bills come when they’re young, pet insurance can help make all those early visits affordable. For more information click here: https://www.sdpeba.org/news/city/everything-you-need-to-know-about-nationwide-pet-insurance