When I was a child, my parents presented me with a big box on Christmas morning. I opened it. It was empty. The contents, a rescue puppy, had escaped somehow prior to the gifts grand entrance.
Over the next month, I grew very fond of the small puppy, and I found its occasional hiccuping to be odd and quirky. Then, one day, the puppy disappeared.
Years later, I was told that the puppy had distemper. My mother repeated several times over the ensuing years that she should have known to take the puppy to the vet, but she had never heard of distemper. It affected me. It obviously affected my Mother.
T'is the season for giving presents, and many people may be considering giving a pet. Puppies and kittens are unbelievably adorable. I know. That's why I love to photograph them. That's why I have been parent to a few. Their playfulness is beyond cute, and they do so many things making people sigh, "Awww!"
Unfortunately, that image is all too often the only image that the potential gift giver sees in their minds eye as they consider giving a puppy or kitten to a child who can't even remember to brush their teeth! A gift to any person of any age is about commitment.
So, here is a reality check from a pet professional:
Puppies poop and chew, kittens sharpen their claws... things to consider before giving "the gift that keeps on living"... Kittens and puppies are living, breathing, and most importantly growing things. They grow bigger (and bigger and in some cases still bigger) and they get older.
Think about this:
- The average indoor cat lives 15-20+ years. Mine lived 19.
- Large breed dogs live 8+ years
- Smaller breeds dogs live 15+ years.
So, a six or seven year old child may be headed off to college and their parents will be left to care for a geriatric pet, with all the health issues and expense that goes along with ever increasing age. The tender care and feeding of a new furry addition is a family effort.
For adult humans, lifestyle can be an issue. In our cat-controlled-household, were we to get a dog, we could have issues. I would want a lap dog, my husband would like a dog with which he could jog. The image of my husband dragging a Chihuahua or Doxie behind him is almost as funny as a Retriever sitting on my lap. We travel, so bigger dogs present more challenges and less options for pet sitters. Neither of us is allergic, but many people are, so gifting a pet could become a really bad human health concern. A busy person's daily schedule could leave the pet alone for hours. That's not cool. All things to consider before gifting a pet.
Pets can be expensive. REMEMBER THEY LIVE, THEY EAT, THEY GET SICK, AND IN SOME CASES THEY GROW AND GROW. Without going too deeply into the totals, the dog that my husband wants to run with could eat 40 or more pounds of dog food per month. Vet care, food, pet training (maybe), and grooming (if required) cost money.
A pet is a very personal choice. Pets and people have personalities. The gesture of giving a pet while charming may bring a personality with irreconcilable differences. Do your research. If you're a low-key kind of individual you probably don't want to bring a Jack Russell Terrier into the mix. Likewise, if you're a get up and go kind of guy, an English Bulldog is probably not going to be your ideal running partner.
Don't get me wrong. I love pets. I ADORE PETS! Pets are wonderful companions. They love unconditionally. Giving the right pet to an older person may be a perfect pick-them-up. Then, there are the folks who have lost a pet. The trouble may be figuring out how much time is needed for the healing, but a pet with the right timing may be the perfect remedy.
A puppy and kitten are not a toy that can be returned. Pets do not teach responsibility. That means that the tender care and feeding of the new addition should be and probably will be a family effort. Coming from a person whose livelihood is pet dependent, the following advice may seem odd: THINK BEFORE GIVING A PET AS A PRESENT!
Oahu, Hawaii Pet Photographer Deb McGuire focuses solely on pet photography & pets with their people. Deb was voted best Hawaii Pet Photographer. Hawaii Pet Photos provides on-location pet photography services throughout Oahu and the world.
No comments:
Post a Comment