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Community Corner

Rethinking the Christmas Puppy

It's a wonderful idea to surprise the kids with a pet for the holidays. Make sure that you're prepared to handle the job.

The holiday season is upon us. This is the time of year when people buy Hanukkah and Christmas presents for loved ones, and it's hard to fight the temptation to put puppies or kittens under the tree as a surprise for the kids. 

People get excited walking into the pet store and seeing the adorable puppies for sale and often bring them home without truly preparing themselves for the lifelong commitment that comes with the purchase. Introducing a new furry member to the family is very exciting, but it comes with great responsibility. Unfortunately, those responsibilities are too often overlooked or not fully recognized before people buy their pets. But the reality of owning, training and loving a pet — walking it, feeding it, caring for it, and yes, cleaning up after it — can make people rethink or panic about their purchase, and the pet may wind up in a shelter.

Caring for a new puppy requires much time and attention. Puppies need to be fed at certain times, let outside or to the proper place to relieve itself more frequently than adult pets. And remember — a puppy who needs to go out in frigid temperatures or in the middle of a blizzard needs a human to go out with it. Your kids might be willing to do the job, but more than likely, it'll be up to you to handle these duties until the temperatures break in the spring.

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Such young animals also require attention via playing and training. Plus, they are likely to like to chew and when there's a house full of new presents, it could make some family members upset.

Adopting a cat or dog can be compared to having a new baby – the responsibility (including finances!) can be present for up to eighteen years! There's no getting away from it: puppies are expensive! The first year of its life will cost several hundred dollars. Both puppies and kittens require several rounds of vaccines, accessories (food bowls, leashes, crate or litter box, toys), spaying/neutering, de-worming and fecal exams, heartworm and flea/tick preventatives. 

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Some require training that may have to come from a professional, periodic grooming, and more. And all of this expense isn't including the cost of treatment if they get sick. 

Thousands of pets every year are brought to shelters to be adopted by other families. But it can get worse: the poor pet remains with a family incapable of caring for it and suffers because it isn't properly loved or cared for.

So, if you're thinking of buying a pet for the holidays, I would recommend that you sit down ahead of time and discuss each family member's responsibility to ensure the new pet will be well cared for. I would also like to suggest that, if you decide to get a pet, you go to your local shelter to find an animal that needs your love. No disrespect to kennels or pet shops, but shelters are full of puppies and kittens that need a good home.

Another important issue in spending holidays with pets is pet safety. Hanukkah candles, Christmas lights, wrapping bows and ribbons, and decorations like tinsel and ornaments can be very dangerous to dogs and cats. They can choke or swallow objects that may require surgical removal, or develop vomiting and/or diarrhea if not supervised during the holiday season. 

Poinsettias can be toxic to cats. Neither dogs nor cats should ingest chocolate (or other human food, but especially chocolate.) Even ordinary household items can pose health risks (pacifiers, socks, electric cords, for example) so extra attention is necessary to pet-proof your home. If dogs are walked outside in the snow, they should wear protective booties and sweaters to keep them warm depending upon the breed. 

It is best to keep cats inside during the cold weather to ensure they eat proper meals and do not suffer the elements. 

I wish everyone a happy and healthy holiday season. Just remember that your pets are members of your family, too, and deserve all the love and care you can give.



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