The commitment of christmas gifts

If you’re thinking of surprising a family member with a pet for Christmas, think again.

Just like human babies, pets need constant attention and care.

There are adoption centers like St.Catharines’ Lincoln County Humane Society (LCHS) that have a thorough application process where, “Everyone in the home meets so there is going to be no surprises,” according to a staff member at the LCHS.

Pets have souls, getting them should never be a surprise, you have to feed them, provide water, give them attention and emotional support.

“Some shelters don’t approve applications pretty much in December at all,” says staff member.

Pet surrenders are common to shelters after Christmas. Either because the owners never knew how much responsibility it is having a pet or having a pet doesn’t fit with their lifestyle.

“A lot of people aren’t ready to put the work into what they (pets) require,” Says staff member.

Pets can suffer emotional damages after being surrendered and it is because of the constant change of environment and lack of attachments.

“It can be rather devastating for an individual specially one pre-exposed to hyper attachment, otherwise emotionally needy, for the lack of better word, animals,” says Sabina Gross, a Professional Dog Trainer with a Bachelor of Science and Animal Sciences.

Dogs naturally don’t take a long time to form attachments. But there are some that have genetic attachment disorders that within a week they will already have separation anxiety.

Some dogs have natural coping mechanism and others suffer from depression and anxiety due to being surrendered or abandoned.

According to Gross, dogs are the most adopted and dropped off on “a whim”.

“People unfortunately see pets as disposable like a car or tennis rack they get it and then they don’t want it anymore,” adds Gross, “when a creature is seen as disposable property you take the commitment much less seriously.”

Gross says if you want to get a pet you have to educate yourself about what that pet requires and then see if you can keep up that hard work and responsibility for 12-14 years “without a moment of rest sometimes” depending on the pet.

“You never surprise people with a pet because they might not have been ready for such a commitment so it’s a very bad idea to get a pet as a gift.” Says Gross.