Christmas gifts: You cannot put a puppy away
The SPCA advises people to give gifts that can be put to one side when the novelty wears off.
Giving someone a pet as a Christmas gift is not supported by the National SPCA.
Says Kira Sparrow, manager of Kempton Park SPCA: “The SPCA in South Africa supports and endorses responsible pet adoption. What we don’t support is the giving of pets as surprise presents – like the guy who gave his girlfriend a puppy on Valentine’s Day or the family that surprised granny with a kitten on Mother’s Day.
“You’re probably aware of the problems faced by SPCAs over the festive season. You’ve no doubt read about the influx of animals before Christmas. Have you ever thought about the number of animals brought into SPCAs after Christmas?
“They’re the ones that have probably been ‘impulse buys’ and when the novelty has worn off or it is time to go back to school, the problem starts.
“To put it another way. The children beg for a pet. The first day, the poor animal is overwhelmed with attention, the second day it is less of an attraction and by the third day it is a case of who is going to clean up the mess?”
The SPCA encourage adoptions but these should be seriously considered moves.
In the run-up to the festive season every year, the SPCA office receives calls inquiring about the abandonment of pets and or adoption rates at SPCAs. But one critical issue highlighted by the NSPCA press officer, but overlooked by callers, is how many pets are handed in at SPCAs after the festive season.
“A dog or cat is for life, not just for Christmas. That is our point. A knowing decision to adopt a pet and make a commitment to the animal for the rest of its life is applauded and is the only responsible way to go about things. This is pet adoption,” Sparrow says.
But instances abound of impulse-buying pets for gifts. The last-minute decision on what to buy for granny – a surprise puppy. Kittens given as Valentine’s Day gifts or Mother’s Day presents.
Is mother prepared for the work, cleaning and attention the puppy will need? Is this a working mother, for example? Does she have the time, inclination or ability to do all that is required? Is the person ready and prepared to make the commitment?
This includes the expenses.
What does a person do with a surprise gift of an animal? Make the best of things even if this means the risk of compromising the animal’s welfare? Pass the animal on? Hand it in at the SPCA? Ask any SPCA employee how he reacts to the frequently heard expression “We gave it away”.
Pets are not toys. When the fun has gone out of non-living gifts, they can be switched off, packed away or simply ignored. The SPCA advises people to give gifts that can be put to one side when the novelty wears off.
