christmas (tat) number five - pets as presents
By jb78000
@jb78000 (15139)
December 1, 2009 7:30am CST
animal sanctuaries are swamped every january with fluffies that seemed a dead cute present at the time and were given to people who either didn't want them to start with or within a family who didn't realise that puppies, kittens, squeaks and bunnies are not wind up toys that can be put into a cupboard when you get bored of them.
the local freecycle group now stops accepting offers of pets until mid january and i think pet shops and animal breeders should follow suit, and not sell ANY pets until well after the festive season. what do you think needs to be done to stop all these unwanted animals being dumped after christmas? some might be lucky and get new homes eventually. others not.
and the obligatory song in this case is about a rabbit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h9czkZiO-38
2 people like this
9 responses
@sid556 (30959)
• United States
2 Dec 09
I was just on the other discussion about this. You know I love you little bunny but I do disagree with you on this one. I don't think the pet shops should give up on selling pets during the holidays. If they did it for Christmas then they would surely have to do it on Easter. That would not end the problem as there are birthdays etc. Around where I live, the pet stores do not sell pets ever to anyone under 18 unless they are there with an adult. Then they question you up and down when you buy a pet. They want to know why you want this pet and how you will manage to care for the pet, etc. If you are buying the pet for a gift....another barrage of questions. It is quite a process unless you are buying something small like a fish or a mouse. A dog, rabbit, cat, etc they do some pretty heavy screening for those purchases. They do strongly advice against buying a pet for a gift unless it is for your own child. I really think that is the best and most responsible they can do. I don't feel they should lower their sales during the holiday season. I know you said that the pets would still be there after the season but by then there will be more babies and the older the pets get....the less adoptable they are. I have bought my kids pets for xmas. I'd be very upset if I wanted to buy them a puppy for xmas and was unable to because oh...pet sales are illegal during the holidays all because of some irresponsible people. The pet stores just need to ump their screening. Also ...there are all the private sellers.
1 person likes this
@jb78000 (15139)
•
2 Dec 09
well little sid, at least you didn't threaten to fry me so i'll let you off with disagreeing. now asking all the questions is an extremely good idea - although they should certainly be doing this for little animals and fish as well. however i still would say that at certain periods pet shops and breeders should agree not to sell animals, i don't think the age of the animal is relevant at all, breeders can arrange to have the babies at the most suitable times. there could be a let out clause whereby someone who is very serious about getting the new pet for the day could go through some additional screening (such as a home check) or a delay but it should be made difficult if not impossible to just pick up a pet as part of the christmas shopping. or easter. yes i know this wouldn't sort out the problem entirely but it would make a difference. anyway i think your area sounds not to bad with how pet shops run - here i have never seen puppies or kittens in shops so i think it is illegal (need to check) to sell them through pet shops however they are pretty clueless about all the others (which includes rabbits,who are not the easiest pets), i think they should really stop altogether. if you want any kind of pet then either go to a breeder or an animal shelter.
@thea09 (18305)
• Greece
1 Dec 09
Ha ha JB inspiration. If I get stuck being given a present I feel obliged to reciprocate I can give them one of my pets offspring. Or cousins. Already house trained, doesn't need meals preparing, excellent company - there you are any last minute offering sorted back.
If anyone tries to get rid of one of their kittens on me I shall politely inform them that a kitten is not just for christmas and as they always have so many they want to give away I'll even find them the telephone number of somewhere they can get the damn cat fixed.
@PeacefulWmn9 (10420)
• United States
1 Dec 09
Hi Jb.
This same problems occurs at easter time with bunnies (sorry, dear) and baby chicks. You solution makes good sense to me, as there are enough unwanted and abandoned animals in the world as it is. Pets, or potential pets, depend on us for their care.
Karen@sid556 (30959)
• United States
2 Dec 09
Since many parents buy these gifts for their kids....fully aware that they will ultimately be the ones taking care of them don't you think it would be a better plan if the pet sellers did a screening on the potential buyers and maybe deny some that are buying as gifts to unsuspecting recipients? Where I live ...that is what they do. My 15 year old can't even buy a hamster without me being there with her...thankfully!
1 person likes this
Screening is an excellent idea!@jb78000 (15139)
•
2 Dec 09
a proper screening is also a very good idea. even the animal sanctuary doesn't do this properly - yes homes are checked for cats and dogs (and i think rabbits) but when i went to to get my two squeakies from them all i did was fill in a standard form, was asked no questions and got very little advice. i could have actually gone away with some mice that would have been miserable where i was living (they were very old and needed a warm retirement home, my flat then got very cold at night) if i hadn't asked a lot of questions myself. i can understand them being keen to rehome their little furries and presumably most people who go there to adopt are sensible but i still think they should have been more thorough.
1 person likes this
@RawBill1 (8531)
• Gold Coast, Australia
1 Dec 09
Giving pets as presents is such a stupid thing to do! There are always warnings telling us not to do it on TV and radio at this time each year, but people must still be buying pets for others as the animal shelters are still overflowing each January, with many of them having to be put down! 
@OpinionatedLady (5965)
• United States
1 Dec 09
FIRST YOU CANNOT ASK BUSSINESSES TO NOT DO BUSSINESS JUST BECAUSE THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE IRRESPONSIBLE OUT THERE. Second the problem isn't that people just get bored they either do it with out asking first or do not let recipient choose animal. This is an important step because with animals you need to choose one who compliments your life style and personality.
@jb78000 (15139)
•
1 Dec 09
? well yes i think you can ask businesses to be responsible, and if pet shops csn help to prevent there being yet more unwanted pets by not selling them over christmas then i think they should. responsible people who want a pet and are serious about it can get their pets at a different time. money is not the be all and end all in this world opinionatedlady. why the angry capitals btw? and yes to the second point, children and indeed adults do get bored of pets, this is more likely when they are bought on impulse or received as a present rather than chosen after as you said spending some time deciding what would suit you and what you would have the time for. there are other reasons pets become homeless or neglected but boredom is definitely one of them
@OpinionatedLady (5965)
• United States
1 Dec 09
People who sell pets make mondo profits off those pups and kittens and what not. The average owner will make a $300 profit from one pup. That is asking them to take a big hit. Perhaps there should be stricter laws such as when exotic animals are purchased. In many places permits or licenses (like dog tags) are needed before pet can leave store. That would slow down giving them as unwanted gifts and still allow pet stores to sell their most profitable "products" ( I do not like calling them that by the way, I don't even agree with selling animals in general just that it is the stores right to sell what they sell)
@jb78000 (15139)
•
1 Dec 09
ok i generally agree with all this. the hit in profits that you talk about by breeders and pet shops not selling them over the festive period however would only occur with the animals that would have been bought on whims and later abandoned. serious would be owners would get them at another time. i think the laws should be tightened up considerably - a license is not a bad idea, another one would be delay, whereby you have to wait say a week before taking a new pet home, and properly trained staff who know about the pets they sell would also help. my local petshop is run by very nice people who however are utterly clueless about their fluffies and i hate to think what advice they are giving out.
@gabs8513 (48686)
• United Kingdom
1 Dec 09
Well like it is said stop selling them before Christmas
If a Child asks for a Pet for Christmas the answer is no they are not toys and basically wait till after the new Year
I just wish People would use their Brains, a Pet, no matter what type is A LIVING BEING that needs love and care and security, not something that was fancied and then get fed up with it and get rid, you wouldn't do that with a child so why a Pet
You can't ask for a Baby at Christmas and then dump it because you got fed up with it
@cloudwatcher (6861)
• Australia
1 Dec 09
As I mentioned in another discussion, there are moves in Australia to stop pet shops from selling puppies and kittens, and some would like this extended to most pets. (Aquariums have to be registered and are controlled) There are also moves to make neutering compulsory unless the owner has a breeder's licence.
The animal refuges are overloaded in the weeks after Christmas, most of the newcomers being unwanted gifts and many are strays from owners abandoning their "pets" when going on holidays.
A puppy or a kitten might seem like a desired new "toy" to a child but they are NOT toys and CANNOT be discarded like most toys.
I would love a dog but will not have one until such time as I no longer do so much travelling - and by then it will probably be too late for me to have one.
@jb78000 (15139)
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2 Dec 09
i think i said before that i think these are very sensible ideas. i like the idea of fish tanks being controlled as well. i hope when you do stop travelling you are able to get a dog - different dogs have different requirements so you might be able to adopt an individual who would be suited to your lifestyle then. i won't be getting a dog either in the foreseeable future because i don't know where i will be in a few years. the same really goes for cats and rabbits. they would be ok if fairly independent, and in pairs, if you went off travelling for a couple of weeks or so at a time but i have a habit of moving abroad. i am going to be here long enough this time for little squeaky critters though .
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@Louc74 (620)
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1 Dec 09
I'm 100% with you Jb. I love animals, and would love a dog, but won't have one because they suffer from separation anxiety really badly, and it wouldn't be fair when I'm working. My little cat is the most pampered puss ever! Although she is incredibly affectionate, I have spoiled her a bit too much, actually.
So I think you have to consider all the pitfalls when you decide whether to bring an animal into your life. I think a lot of people don't think they even have feelings, which couldn't be further from the truth.
I think they should go back to having to have an animal licence before you're allowed to have a pet. If you have to go through the process of getting a licence, it will give time to think about what a hge commitment it's going to be.
And I'm definitely in favour of banning breeders and shops from selling around christmas time, although some people will just flout laws regardless.
