As Christmas rapidly approaches, minds turn to the
age-old question of what perfect gifts to give loved ones.
For some, the notion of giving a pet as a lasting gift is
enticing – but unless you know the gift recipient very
well and are certain a cat or dog is on their must-have wish
list, giving pets is actively discouraged by animal welfare
experts.
PD Insurance’s COO Michelle Le Long says
gifting cats and dogs can sometimes have heartbreaking and
unfortunate outcomes.
“Unlike any other gift, a pet
comes with tremendous responsibility that usually lasts for
a decade and sometimes even two. This means a gifted pet
should never be a surprise and must come with absolute
certainty that the recipient wants a dog or cat and is aware
of the costs and other obligations involved in pet
parenting,” she explains.
Le Long suggests pet
fostering as a far better alternative gift, which can
provide the joyful experience of pet parenting without the
full scale of responsibilities involved.
For those who
know with certainty someone wants a furball under the Yule
tree, she strongly advises either buying from an ethical
breeder (for pedigree pets) or adopting a pet. “Many fur
kids are crying out for a loving home. Adoption means saving
a pet while delivering the joy of pet
parenting.”
Foster
first!
Particularly with youngsters, the
desire for a pet can be quite different from the reality of
caring for one. If a pet is on the ‘must-have’ list,
consider giving the opportunity to foster a dog or cat
first. This provides a temporary experience of pet
ownership, allowing families to see what’s truly involved
before making a long-term commitment.
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This improves
the quality of life of sheltered animals and gives potential
pet parents proper insight as to what they are getting
themselves into – with the best result being a rehomed pet
and a happy owner. At worst, it’s a lesson
learned.
Adopt, don’t buy (where
possible)
Anyone thinking of giving pets –
after having established with absolute certainty that it’s
the right gift – has several options available to them.
For example, rather than handing your gift recipient a dog
or cat, perhaps give them a voucher that covers adoption
fees.
That means they can head to a shelter under
their own steam, to choose from the thousands of abandoned
animals that go into shelters every year. Some of which
started life as a gifted pet!
Regardless of whether
it’s Christmas or any other time of year, adoption by a
dedicated and caring pet parent gives these abandoned
animals a second chance at a good life.
Watch
for mills and scams
It’s sad but true:
puppy mills and puppy scams are plentiful in New Zealand,
churning out dogs with little regard for their wellbeing, or
simply duping people out of their money. Unless you’re set
on gifting a pedigree pet, fostering, or adopting enables
you to give children or other family members the gift of a
pet with fewer risks. This approach also helps you avoid
getting embroiled in the unpleasant business of unethical
breeders / inhumane breeders or scam artists.
Engaging
with a trusted, recognised animal shelter means doing
something great for a pet in need while connecting your
child, other family member or friend with a lifelong
companion. For those who want a pedigree dog or cat, buying
from an ethical breeder registered with Dogs New Zealand
(our national kennel club) helps ensure the pet is healthy
and the process is above board.
It’s the
little things (that can become big things)
Le
Long says any prospective pet parent should be under no
illusions: dogs and cats give a lot, but they also require a
lot. “Pets need training, care, love and attention,
regular exercise, food, and medical care. All these things
take time and money, and every pet parent must be willing
and able to provide this.”
She stresses that the
idea of pets as gifts is generally a bad idea, but not
exclusively. “For some people, the gift is ideal. Many of
us got a puppy or a kitty under the tree, and it had the
best outcome for the pet and for our families. The bottom
line is that this is a gift that, more than any other,
requires very careful thought. And part of that thought
should include where and how you source your
pet.”
About PD Insurance (pd.co.nz)
pd.co.nz is a pet insurance
specialist dedicated to providing pets and pockets with a
soft landing in times of need. The company’s goal is to
empower pet parents to make easy, quick, care-based
decisions around their pet’s health with fewer worries
about the costs. Unique to pd.co.nz is its
month-to-month payment model whereby customers aren’t
locked into a contract, so they can cancel anytime without
penalty.
The company is committed to a fast and fair
claims service, aiming for resolution within two business
days of receiving all documentation. As with all Badger
International brands, the essence of the pd.co.nz customer service
philosophy is Simplicity (in service delivery) and Soft
Landings (a commitment to providing customers a gentle
landing in times of need).
Headquartered in Auckland,
pd.co.nz employs a local team of
animal lovers who provide support such as sales, marketing,
and operations. The company is a division of Pacific
International Insurance and wholly owned by Badger
International NZ LP.
Recognising every animal deserves
to be well cared for, pd.co.nz is the
proud Principal Partner of Healthy Pets New Zealand, a
charity established in 1998 by the New Zealand Veterinary
Association’s Companion Animal Branch to draw attention to
the ‘big health and welfare issues of Kiwi pets.
It
is also principal partner of Dogs New Zealand, the
country’s national kennel club. Together they share a
mission to inform, educate and raise awareness of
responsible dog ownership in New Zealand – a country that
recognises dogs are an integral part of
society.
© Scoop Media