Christmas is quickly approaching and so are the ads for people offering a puppy, kitten or maybe a bunny as a great Christmas present for the family.
It is a great gift if you intend to give this furry friend an excellent home for the next 15 years.
Getting a pet should not be taken lightly. They are not a piece of furniture that, when you get tired of it, you simply give it away or discard it into the trash. A pet is a lifelong commitment of their life, not yours.
Rescues are overwhelmed with puppies. They get new calls every day for another litter and they have no more room, which is something these rescues hate to experience. This is mainly due to bad, uneducated and/or irresponsible pet owners.
These animals require spaying and neutering at six months of age so we do not get these unwanted pregnancies.
You took this on when you got your pet, along with the vaccinations, deworming, rabies shots and yearly checkups. This is part of the commitment you agreed to when you got your furry friend.
If your dog is an outdoors lover, they still need a warm, dry place to sleep, plus fresh food and water. Some dog breeds love the cold weather and if this is what you want, then do not get a dog that requires the heat from your home.
No dog belongs on a chain. Doing this to a dog is like staying in the bathroom for the rest of your life.
There are guardian dogs that protect herds. They need to have land to roam. This is their job, so do not get a dog like this if you live in town and have a small yard.
A fenced yard in town keeps your pet safe and away from the neighbour’s. It is also a great place for your pet to play.
If you think a puppy won’t mess up your home, you are wrong. They are puppies and will chew on things. It is your job to teach them what they can and cannot do. It is also your job to teach them to go outside for potty, which requires many trips to the door.
Our house is filled with happy four-legged friends, and I would not have it any other way.
Our living room floor is covered with dog toys and beds, and at times a chewed up stick. Nothing a vacuum won’t clean up. Dog leashes hang on the coat rack along with dog coats on a cold day.
They each have their favourite person, but when we come home, they bounce around until they all get some love from us all. The reaction from them is the same whether it be half an hour or a day. Just like a kid, they are scolded and taught right from wrong.
We have a bell on our back door that they hit if they need or want outside. It is the best approach, as I do not always see them going to the back room.
Our pets are very spoiled, and this is their home. They live here. They might jump on you with excitement and they might not leave you alone until you acknowledge them, just like a child. A dog has a very good memory and loves their person wholeheartedly.
They did not pick you, you picked them.
So, after a year if you are sick of them and drop them off at the SPCA or worse yet, down a gravel road, they sit and wait for you, they look for you and cry for you, because you are their life.
This Christmas if you think you want a puppy, just remember the work involved and the commitment.
They will be worth all the effort, and you will have a friend for life.