Words of Caution on Giving Pets as Christmas Gifts

This holiday season, experts are cautioning people about the potential troubles when animals are given as Christmas gifts. The director of the Humane Society of Louisiana, Jeff Dorson, says animals should only be given to those who are prepared to care for them. “If you’re thinking of giving a live animal to somebody you care about, make sure they want it; nothing worse than giving a cat, a dog, an iguana, a bird, to somebody who’s not ready for it.”

As Sean Richardson with Louisiana Public Radio reports, Dorson explains that when you decide to give a pet as a gift, consider the person’s lifestyle. For example, an elderly person may prefer a calm, older dog or cat rather than an energetic puppy or kitten. Dorson cautions, “You don’t want to give a working dog like a shepherd or a herd animal to someone who lives in a small apartment.”

Dorson adds that there’s nothing worse than getting a puppy only to have it grow up tied to a tree. And that’s when his agency, and others, get a call from a concerned citizen. Instead, Dorson suggests that people who want to adopt a pet then let them do the adoption.