Charlene Brown of Lodeyko writes:
Silly season.
It’s that time of year when people start thinking about buying Christmas presents and often a new puppy, kitten or duckling seems like a great gift idea for the children or grandchildren.
Two years ago we heard about a family who thought ducklings would make awesome pets for the grandchildren, but by February the poor ducks had been tossed over the fence into the local duck pond.
Believe me, they did not have a better life there just because the pond was bigger.
“Pecking order” is a harsh reality.
As a duck owner, whose duck celebrated her seventh birthday in October, caring for a duck is hard work, and that goes for all pets.
That cuddly puppy, kitten or duckling seems like a great idea on December 25 but by mid-year, you have a full-grown pet on your hands that requires lots of time and money.
A single trip to the vet for yearly dog inoculations is going to cost you over R800, so before you decide to “treat” the children or grandchildren to a new pet for Christmas ask yourself whether you and they are really committed to raising and caring for this new animal.
