By Samantha Daggett, Beca Delvaux, & Josh Buntin
The holidays are just around the corner, and everyone is scrambling to get the right gift. Every year, animal shelters see an increase in surrenders following the holidays after pets are given as gifts. Giving a pet as a present might seem like a good idea, but this is not always the case. This may seem at odds with shelters experiencing overcrowding and that adopting pets to give as gifts might be a solution to this problem, in addition to seeming like a cute idea. There are a number of animal shelters located in Green Bay, all of which experience an influx of activity during the holidays.
Typically, kids will ask for a pet as a Christmas present, or maybe someone wants to give their partner a pet for Christmas. People may ask for pets as a present because they lost a pet in the past year, kids believe they are ready for more responsibility, or possibly a friend has been talking about how much they want a puppy. It is usually always out of the love and care people have for their friends and family. But, sometimes, others may do it out of a joke or without thinking too much about the consequences. To many, giving a pet as a present seems like a fun idea and makes an easy gift. While this may be true, having a pet is potentially a 10-year or more commitment for individuals and families. With pets comes the need to pay for food, medicine, and veterinary expenses, among other things. Not everyone can even have a pet in their home, either because of size or if their landlord allows them to have pets. The animals might also be incompatible with the families they’re gifted to, leading to them being returned to the shelter. There are successful cases of surprising someone with a pet as a present, but these are special circumstances, and a surprise pet may cause more chaos during an already hectic holiday season.
Kathy De Champs, President of Green Bay Animal Rescue, explained how pets are not a good idea for a Christmas present. De Champs does believe that parents gifting a pet to their children is okay because the parents are the ones making the decision and understand the precautions of owning a pet, which is different from surprising an adult family member, friend, or coworker with a pet. Some of the consequences include not realizing what goes into owning a pet. De Champs believes one of the most important things for people to consider is unexpected expenses. She recommends that pet owners open up a savings account that is designated for the unexpected expenses of having a pet because it can sometimes cost thousands of dollars. According to Bart Daggett, a pet owner, “Pets cost three times the amount that you think it does.” 56% of Green Bay residents are renters, which means that they have to obey what their landlord says. A lot of landlords do not let “aggressive breeds” or cats with claws into their rentals due to potential damage to the property or other disturbances. If these rules are broken, residents will almost always be required to make an extra deposit and pay a monthly bill to keep the pet there. The Wisconsin Humane Society keeps a list of apartments and rentals that accommodate owners keeping pets.
For Beca Delvaux, her cat Danny was born with digestive issues and a severe heart murmur. They did not know how long Danny would live, so Delvaux wanted to take responsibility and give him a happy life and do what she could to keep him around for a long time. One day, Danny would not urinate, causing Delvaux to take him to a 24/7 animal hospital in Appleton, Wisconsin, about 45 minutes away from where she lives. He was diagnosed with a urine disease. The unexpected vet bill cost over $400. If he would’ve needed surgery, it would have cost over $3,000. Now, Danny is on a special diet for the rest of his life which costs Delvaux roughly $70 a month just for food. All of these bills were unexpected, but Delvaux adopted Danny with the understanding that it could possibly happen once, twice, or many more times throughout his life.
Grace Prust, a pet owner in Green Bay, said that prospective pet owners need to understand how to care for a pet and what the animal’s needs are, as well as being able to meet those needs. Her family adopted their cats and a dog from either family members or neighbors who couldn’t adequately take care of them. Her family also rescued a stray cat. Prust recommends prospective owners do their research before adopting. She gave some advice, saying, “Adopt, don’t shop. Visit your local animal shelters and humane societies to find your animal companion. Don’t find a breeder, aka shop, because not every breeder acts in a humane manner and is ethical in what they do. Why not give an animal at a shelter, who has probably been there for a long time, a forever home?” Prust said she loves having pets and explained how pets have positive mental health effects and boost ‘feel good’ hormones.
There are some fun alternatives that can be purchased as a Christmas present instead of getting a pet. Firstly, instead of adopting a pet without the person that it is being adopted for knowing or involved, they could come with to pick out the one they truly want and connect with. Secondly, anything representing a pet or animal, such as jewelry, art, or stuffed animals, can be a great alternative. There are companies that every time a purchase is made, that person “adopts” a bee. So, the person gets a bee necklace or earrings, and then, in turn, they get to “adopt” a bee by providing financial support to make sure that bee is protected for the rest of its life without having to take care of it because that company keeps the bee.
Having a pet can be a beneficial addition to someone’s life and their family. Pets can be companions and help combat loneliness and depression, and other mental health issues. However, having a pet is a major commitment, both financially and the time it takes to care for a pet. Giving a pet as a present for someone who is not prepared to take care of a pet will cause stress for both the person and the pet and potentially lead to the pet being surrendered back to the shelter, starting the adoption process over for the animal. If you plan to give a pet as a Christmas present, plan for the unexpected.
