Animal Welfare Do you think pets for Christmas is a good idea?

[kirsty91]

Especially for kids? It's a pretty common thing to do and I know a lot of shelters are either really big on it or are really against it. It's hard because people will get a dog or horse or guinea pig but in a few months may not want it anymore. I don't think it is the best idea unless this is something that has been really looked into by the person adopting. If my child wanted a pet for Christmas they would have needed to ask me back in October. I would want to make sure it is something they would really want and would be willing to help take care of it. I think too many animals get picked up for Christmas presents then end up in shelters a few months later What do you guys think?

 

[Llamasomething]

Yeah, I think it would be a good gift for someone who has expressed high interest in getting a pet long before christmas, but not for someone who suddenly decided on December 1st that they want a dog/cat/guinea pig/etc.

 

[Catahoula]

I don't think a pet should ever be bought for a child. My belief is that an animal should be a whole family commitment. Choosing one as a gift seems to "spur of the moment" for me. Bringing another family member into the house should be carefully considered, but alas, few people are responsible enough to think that complexly.

 

[Inle_Rabbit]

My husband and I have talked about this many times. Next year we will be buying our first house. Our wonderful sheltie dog is getting old, he's 9, and prefers to spend his time sleeping rather than playing which is sad for our kids who are so young (4 and 2). Next Christmas we are hoping to be able to give the children a new dog under the tree. Though I have no idea how to hide a dog until December 25th as most kennels are closed and the kids might notice a new dog in the back yard. lol but we will cross that bridge when we come to it.

This year I was thinking about getting another guinea pig and putting it under the tree but with Ben relapsing with his URI that will not be happening. We will be getting our 3rd guinea pig after the holidays instead.

I don't really have a problem with pets as presents as long as the person receiving it wants one and everyone in the family is prepared for the responsibilities of the animal. An animal is definatly NOT a last minute grab and go gift that is for sure!

 

[HannibalLecter]

I really dislike the idea as it makes many think of the animal an object, a gift. Not a new living, feeling, social permanent family member. Having an adopted child as a christmas present is absurd, yet a life of another species isn't and is so easily disposed of when things get though or boring.

Giving an animal to child, especially one that isn't their own is also a horrible idea, where a child won't have developed the ability or maturity to care for another life & all it's needs. Most parents also overestimate their child's ability where the brain simply isn't equipped for that responsibility yet.

 

[pinky]

I have no problem with a guinea pig being given as a gift if the recipient is involved with the selection of it, really wants it and makes the long term commitment that comes with pet ownership. I strongly oppose surprising anyone with an animal, whether it's a gift or not. The important thing is that the pet is not viewed as a material possession that can be discarded later on.

 

[Rayvn]

Honestly, I've never gotten an animal for christmas, nor have I given an animal to someone else as a gift. For some reason, though, I do get animals for my birthday sometimes, but ONLY if I researched them thoroughly before getting one. I spent over five months preparing for the arrival of my bunny, and I got her for my birthday. Later, I had been preparing for my guinea pig for three months before getting him. You should never get anyone a pet as a gift without talking to them about it and making sure that they can handle all aspects of it's care. On the other hand, after you've got all of the details sorted out, a beautiful piggy in a carrier is a wonderful rewarding gift.

 

[Kieri]

i know people who have received pets as gifts. once the pet isn't cute anymore, they rehome it. my boyfriend's cousin received a bunny, but grew uninterested with it when it grew up.

i agree, pets should be a family commitment. if the responsibility is placed onto one child, then it may come off as a chore or burden. also, in my family, we had hamsters that belonged to specific siblings. if i asked my siblings for help with one of my hamsters, they turned me down because it "wasn't theirs."

i think an animal as a gift is great if the person receiving the animal has done their research, is truly dedicated and interested, and participates in obtaining the animal. if it is a child, then it should be a family matter rather than specific for that child.

 

[go_ellie]

I think pets can make a great gift given notice. Families need to prepare for a pet and make sure thats it the right thing for them at the moment. Also, like you said, families need information in advance. You need to prepare for an adition to the family.

i have wanted a guinea pig freind since August. I have held "family meetings" to discuss adding an addition. After the holidays is when I'm getting mine.

I think that many families adopt or buy puppies on a whim during the holidays. With it being so crazy and the pets so small, maney of them are streest out (including the parents). They don't know what there up aganst and, well there back at the store and the shelter.

I think a pet for a present is a great thing!!!! You just have to you, the pet, and your family.

 

[guineapigfan9000]

To people in other households to you: no, especially if you haven't asked in advance. If you knew the people well and had asked an adult member of the household in advance, maybe it would be okay. Personally, I think it would be a more meaningful experience to go to the pound/shelter as a family and pick out the new pet.

If your whole family makes a commitment (backed up by an adult who agrees to take care of the pet if nobody else does), I think getting a pet is a great thing to do for Christmas - although perhaps not actually on Christmas day, because that might be a bit overwhelming with all the other celebrations going on. I think the family visit to the animal shelter is the best way to get the pet - perhaps surprise the kids with a "we're getting a pet" announcement on Christmas, then go to the shelter a few days after.

 

[fridzalone]

I never agree in giving pets as gift, not only for kids but even for adults.

For kids, well it's unquestionable that kids only want cuddly little things that they can hug and play with. Unless, the parents are really prepare to take care the pets, I doubt that is a good idea.

And as a gift for adults, well as an adult (even if he/she is a pet lover) someone must have considerations why he/she doesn't get a pet. Maybe she/he doesn't have time for the pets, or maybe he/she think that the house space isn't enough, etc.

Deciding to have a pet should be made individually if he/she lives alone, or as a group who lives together (family or housemates).

 

[ChristieB]

To me all animals are "gifts". Just like babies are. We bought our children their piggies for Christmas...mainly because it was a large investment and we don't make large investments often. It also was just coinsedence really. Our dog passed away in September and we all just felt so empty without him. My 7 year old literally cried herself to sleep for 2 months...every single night. We even bought a trip to Disney for their birthdays (WAY not our normal) and it was better when e were there but then we walked back into our empty house and it was just not right. She had been bringing home guinea pig books form the library for months so we did a lot of research and then decided we would gift them a new little love bug for Christmas. now do I make them have ultimate responsibility? No way. They are 5 and 7 and the 5 year old at that has very little interest. But children having pets, IMO, is huge. It teaches them a different kind of love...a nuturing kind of love. It gives them responsibility. I consider these, as well as all of our pets, part of the family. I as the adult take full responsibility for their care but the children help me. We printed out teh correct diet from this site so twice a day they help me figure out what fresh veggies they should get. They scoop poop and help with hay. Most of all the help with the love part. My 7 year old does floor time with them for hours on end. They get held and kissed and smoothered with attention. The children adore them and they are learnign a valuable part of life. When I was younger my mother and father gave me this same gift. The gift of a love you can only have between you and your pet as a child. I am now a huge lover of animals. We instill the same morals and values into our children that we believe in. We treat our animals as family, we get them healthy if they get sick, no matter what the circumstance, we are in this for the long haul and we don't give up on an animal. You research before you bring a pet into the home. you give love out....you get love back...and it's unconditional. Why would that NOT be an awesome gift for a child? IMO it is one of the best gifts you could give.

 

[sdpiggylvr]

To me all animals are "gifts"....Why would that NOT be an awesome gift for a child? IMO it is one of the best gifts you could give.

A guinea pig should be made part of the family and committed to as a family, with proper knowledge and expectations of care, feeding, medical care, life span, etc. before the pet is brought home -- not a gift or toy (it makes the animal an object and makes it seem disposable) for a child or a spur-of-the-moment decision. See Guinea Lynx's 12 Pleas of a Guinea Pig:

Please do not leave my care to a child. I cannot be taken care of by a child. I am not a play thing. I am not a toy you take home on a child's whim. I am not a gift or a reward. It is your responsibility to take care of me, to feed me, to clean my cage. Let your child hold me on his or her lap and pet me under supervision only. I have fragile bones and teeth that easily break. Though I am small, I need strong hands to hold me.

@ChristieB, your situation is not the norm. While everything you are doing is great, most people don't do what you're doing -- they go to the nearest pet store, grab a guinea pig without knowing what kind of care is involved, how expensive vet bills can be, how long guinea pigs can live... The guinea pig is nothing but an object that is disposable when it is too inconvenient or too expensive or the-kids-got-bored. And ultimately rescues and shelters are burdened by these impulse buys. It's not a fair situation for anyone -- kids cannot be expected of so much, and guinea pigs shouldn't be victims of immaturity and irresponsibility.

If I may, I would like to suggest that next time you get a guinea pig, you adopt one from a shelter or rescue: https://www.guinealynx.info/rescues.html. There are many homeless guinea pigs, and it would be so kind of you to save a life or two.

At the rescue where I volunteer, we stop adoption events after the second week of December because we don't want to encourage exactly what we're talking about now. Instead we encourage that you put a "Coupon for Adoption" under the tree and take your whole family, after the holiday excitement has died down, and come visit the rescue to make the adoption as a family. It's really the best way, in my opinion!

 

[arionat799]

I asked for a guinea pig in October. My Dad was completely against the idea, so I sat down with him, and asked why I couldn't have one. I made a powerpoint presentation and showed him the soloutions to his "concerns". I even picked out every thing i was going to buy for my future piggie and how much it would cost. I called numerous sign shops to see if they had coroplast. I showed my Dad that I was devoted, so on Christmas day I unwrapped a PetSmart gift card, Oxbow Western Timothy Hay, a water bottle, and a pellet dish. The next day we bought grids and coroplast, and I built the cage. The next day, we drove an hour away and picked up Ginger!!

To sum it up, the answer to the question is: It depends on who wants it, and how devoted they are.

 

[Kimberly713]

Nope. A gift is not something you put hours and hours of research into before getting it for someone. A gift is normally an impulse buy or something you think would be "a good idea" for a particular person. For example, my uncle whom knows nothing about guinea pigs except thinks they are considered "food for other animals" thought about buying one for my cousin Azriah whom is 6 and would likely injure said guinea pig... That's the situation most of the time that pets are given as gifts.

I think getting a pet should be an individual or immediate family decision, not a surprise.

 

[CavyCarnie]

Hmm. I don't really know that the question should be asked in a forum like this, simply because it's a very personal, and situational sort of topic. I would never buy a pet for someone who was not under my roof. I did however; buy pets for all my own kids for christmas this year. That being said, they have been recieving their "gifts" since July. My seven year old has two cockatiels, my 9 year old his rabbit., and two months ago, my five year old got her two pigs. Not one of the children is the primary caregiver of said pets. I am. The pets are not the educators. I am. The kids love their pets, and assist me in their care so I can teach them animal husbandry. No responsible parent would expect a child to be a primary caregiver. That does not mean that a person should accept that all kids should have a pet, nor that no child should have one. I am outraged as anyone when I hear of a neglected or abused animal. However; we must be willing to concede that not everyone is the same. This is something to be decided by the adults in the home, in that situation. Be careful. It is as easy to judge without common sense as it is to buy a pet without common sense.

 

[nibbler100]

I don't think a pet should ever be bought for a child. My belief is that an animal should be a whole family commitment. Choosing one as a gift seems to "spur of the moment" for me. Bringing another family member into the house should be carefully considered, but alas, few people are responsible enough to think that complexly.

My mother lets me have pets as they are my pets and she doesn't get involed with them because she sees them as rodents. i have a job and i can support them on my own. i have about 200 dollars set back for vet bills (it grows high with each pay check) and i buy my own food and supplies for my piggies. Im 16 and have owned gunie pigs off and on for about 6 years. before i had a job it was her paying for everything but if i had money it was me. I belive if the kid can take care of it and the parents want nothing to do with it fine. but if its the spur of the moment choice then no. most kids out grow pets but for me i never out grew my love for guinea pigs. as Christmas presents it should be vary well thought out before buying any animal, and they should do a lot of research. People who dont do so, well they shouldn't have bought it (as in "it" i mean any animal people might think of getting for xmas).

 

[newToCavies]

I'm totally against Christmas pets whether they were well thought out in advance or a pet-store purchase the day before. Pets get lost in all of the commotion of the holidays. Also, many people view gifts as something interesting for maybe a month and then they lose interest with it. Any animal deserves your full attention when you first get it to be able to bond with you and settle in its new home. All the noise and social interactions (including sick extended family possibly getting your pet sick) are too much for new pets no matter how much time and effort you put into planning unless you are willing to keep the pet somewhere quiet and leave them alone at Christmas, which can be hard for adults and children, and depending on the pet, probably the pet too.

I think the only way I would ever get my kids a pet on Christmas is by giving them a gift of a piece of paper with a picture of the type of pet it is - with a promise to prepare for one soon, even the same day or next day if that's what the family does, and pick one up when the relatives go home and everything quiets down, in a few days or a week. That way the recepient can pick out the perfect pet that may live up to 18 years with you instead of being surprised by one that they may not have had in mind. And you'd still get the element of "surprise" by saying you would buy it for them on Christmas. That's how I'd do it.