Have you ever received a pet as an unexpected gift?

My condolences on the loss of your cat, ShepherdSpy... and I certainly understand you not feeling ready for another. It's lovely that your neighbour offered you the pick of the litter but, if it's not the time, it's probably for the best that you don't see them. Shelters, as you mentioned, are certainly over-burdened with animals as it is and I'm sure they get quite a number of them in the weeks or months after Christmas. The novelty will wear off quickly in someone who truly didn't want a pet in the first place :(

You raise a good point, maximax8, that it really does depend on the person as to whether or not they will appreciate receiving a pet. I know that there would be people who couldn't imagine anything better. Like you, I wouldn't want to give a pet to someone else because, if it turned out they didn't really want it or didn't treat it properly, I'd feel like I was the one that mistreated it by sending it to a home where it wasn't loved or appreciated. I've never taken in a stray (yet, anyway) but I remember when I was a teenager, I found a dog roaming near our house. My dad and I just loved him... we gave him the "temporary" name Barney because it just seemed to fit him. He was a shaggy black and white "mutt," it appeared and was so friendly. My mom was a little less crazy about him but my dad said that, if we tried to find the owners and no one claimed him, I could keep him. The owners turned up two days later. I was really happy for them to have their dog back but was incredibly sad to see him go.

Excellent point rg0205... sometimes there are already a number of pets in the home and adding more might not be in the plan. People need to consider so many factors before they ever consider giving a pet as a gift. Oh and I agree with you too... pets are a great way for young people to learn responsibility. We've had birds and fish in the house so far and I'd say my girls were "pretty good" at caring for them. They love them, naturally, but I still have to remind them that cages and tanks need to be cleaned. They aren't little kids either :\ I admit I end up doing it sometimes but I really shouldn't.

I agree, l33tgirl. Impulse buying a pet is just not a good idea. Sometimes, people are comfortable with the cost of the animal -- but don't take into consideration the ongoing expenses, as you mentioned. Food alone can be expensive, depending on the size of the animal and its potential health conditions. I wouldn't buy a pet for someone else unless they specifically agreed to it or told me that was what they wanted. Giving a pet to someone that I wasn't sure was ready would make me worry that they would simply give it up afterwards and that just wouldn't be right.

Wow... so you were taking care of the bird and the owner never came back for it? How sad that someone would do that -- but good for you that you had it in your heart to keep it and care for it :)) What kind of bird do you have?

It really IS hard not to fall in love with them, isn't it? Such a shame that you had to give the kitten away after getting accustomed to having it. You point out another reason, though, why it's not always a good idea to give a pet as a gift. The giver might not know that the receiver has already made plans to move and the move might be to a place where the pet simply cannot go. You were lucky to have a friend that was willing and able to give the cat a home :)