What you should consider before getting a pet this holiday season

The holiday season is a busy time for animal shelters. Before getting a new pet, Bryant Almeida with Orange County Animal Services said there are some major things that people should consider first for the animals’ sake. “Animals aren't toys. These are living creatures,” said Almeida. “A lot of them require extra work. Some will require more than others. And we just ask: Number one thing is do your research, do your homework.”Almeida said the holidays are incredibly busy for them, including folks who are thinking of giving an animal as a gift. “While we don't necessarily support that, we feel like if people are going to do it, let's at least do it the right way,” he said. “We suggest if you're going to give a pet to someone, bring them here to the shelter. Make sure that their lifestyle or that person themselves matches with that dog.”Almeida encourages people to make sure that the animal that they are looking for is the animal they can actually handle in their home. “Just because it's a cute this kind of dog, this breed of dog, doesn't mean that it's the right fit for you,” he said. “If you're an active person, maybe you don't get a lazy dog. If you're a lazy person, maybe you don't get an active dog.”He said the downside is people giving the animals they were not prepared for to the shelter. For folks who have decided to grow their family, Almeida encourages preparation. “Whether or not your house is prepared for an animal, whether or not your schedule fits the care that an animal requires,” he said. Lastly, for people who are now playing with their new pet they for got Christmas, Almeida said just know that a new routine can take time. “There's no such thing as a turnkey pet. Animals need adjustment time. They need a period to get used to you, to get used to a new home. If you have a pet inside the home, they need time before they can be introduced to that animal,” he said. “It's about patience. It's about time. It's about understanding that this is a living creature. It's going to take a little bit of time to adjust not just to you, but to your home as well.”

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