(KMJ) December 24th, 2015 – It’s Christmas Eve and some will be thinking of putting a Christmas pet under the tree, but sticking a brand new pet into your family without introductions might not be the best idea.
Local shelters say by January, many of the cute Christmas animals turn out to be more than the family expected and they end up getting tossed aside, and dropped off at the shelter.
Shannon Escobedo from the Valley Animal Center says you can still give a pet…just give a certificate that says you will pick out that pet together…rather than boxing up a dog.
“That’s the best way to do it, especially if you’re giving the pet to someone that’s not in your family or your immediate family so that way they can find just the right animal for them, because maybe the animal you personally picked out is a good pet for you, but it might not meet their needs and you want to make sure it does not get returned for the holidays.” -Shannon Escobedo, Valley Animal Center.
Also do some research, all puppies are cute but consider the animal’s temperament when it’s grown, and also how much work it takes to train it.
There’s also the cost of food, medical care, regular checkups–the cost of boarding your animal if you go out of town. When it comes down to those factors Escobedo says a lot of people are not ready to be responsible.
If you decide to get an animal – adopt a shelter pet – there are many out there, and don’t forget to microchip.
And this holiday and everyday during the winter, keep your pets inside – Escobedo says it’s simply too cold for them outdoors.
Valley Animal Center: http://www.valleyanimal.org/
Animal Rescue Center www.arf-fresno.com
Central California SPCA http://ccspca.com/support-the-ccspca/adopt/
Animal Compassion Team WWW.AnimalCompassionTeam.com
