The Downside of Christmas Pets

There is nothing sweeter than seeing your child’s face light up on Christmas morning when a brand new puppy jumps into his or her arms. This is an incredible moment, almost unforgettable. You think, life is great, or is it? Not trying to be a “Debbie Downer,” but we should talk about the Downside of Christmas Pets.

Here’s the thing, everyone’s searching for the perfect gift to top last year’s Christmas. But, for some reason, it keeps getting harder to find. A new pet is not always a magical fix for this problem.

My mother would spend months searching for the perfect kitten or puppy to rock my world at 6 a.m. on December 25th.

One of the most exciting Christmases I ever had was the year she surprised me with a beautiful blue-eyed Persian kitten. He had a tiny flat face, just like a gremlin, so I called him Gizmo. He was the best gift I could ever ask for.

Unfortunately, my story didn’t have a happy ending.

My sweet, little Gizmo never had a chance. He ended up passing away from dehydration within the first week. The poor fella didn’t even make it to New Year’s Eve.

I was completely heartbroken.

Later, we learned from the Vet that Gizmo had been sick before my mother brought him home for Christmas. The breeder never disclosed that information with her.

No matter if you’ve been naughty or nice this year, my “Downside of Christmas Pets Check List” will prepare you for the life-long commitment ahead.

Do Your Research

Careful research will help prevent your own sad ending.

Unfortunately, there are some sketchy breeders out there. Have you ever heard of “Puppy Mills?” These folks are popping out puppies right and left. They sell multiple breeds and show little interest in the buyer. It’s all about the money.

Just to be clear, I’m not referring to all breeders, just some. In this article by the humanesociety.org, there are specific details listed for finding a responsible dog breeder.

Lifelong Commitment

I can’t bear to think of all the homeless animals that were once some little child’s Christmas gift. Now they sit in a cold cage, hopelessly waiting for a miracle. So sad... 

Why does this happen? Unfortunately, many families are not prepared to take on the massive responsibilities of a lifelong pet. Animals are not human, but they deserve as much love and compassion as we do.

Alarming Statistics

According to the humanesociety.org, “Of the 3 million cats and dogs euthanized in shelters each year, approximately 2.4 million (80%) are healthy and treatable and could have been adopted into new homes” (Humane Society). These are very alarming statistics.

The humanesociety.org also estimated the number of cats and dogs entering shelters each year is between 6-8 million.

The percentage of purebred dogs living in shelters is 25%.

I wonder how many of those dogs and cats were Christmas pets?

Think about the Expense

Don’t get me wrong, pets are worth every penny spent, but it can get seriously expensive. According to credit.com, you may spend over $1,000 during the first year alone. The annual expense may even exceed this number if your furry friend gets sick or needs surgery.

This is one down-side of getting a Christmas Pet, especially for families that have pre-existing financial issues.

On a side note, cats are known to be less expensive to care for than dogs. Although, if you own an inside cat, you will be forever buying cat litter. It seems like we run out of litter faster than we do toilet paper.

Do You Have the Energy for a Pet?

No joke, I just spent 15 minutes cleaning up a broken pickle jar that my one-year-old German Shepherd knocked over.

Here’s why I mention it. These mishaps will certainly happen, at least for a good year or so. Are you mentally and physically ready for these responsibilities? (Especially, after the Holidays are over?)

Not everyone has the patience or energy to keep up, not just for cleaning up broken pickle jars but for going on walks and properly training your pet.

Training a puppy is crucial, and it takes tons of energy to do it. Unless your lucky enough to have “Cesar Millan” in your family, you might be headed down a difficult road for the first year.

Consider the Weather

Picture this… It’s around 8 p.m. on Blue Monday. Cold January rain is falling, and everyone is exhausted from their long day. Your daughter’s new puppy needs to go potty, and no one is volunteering to take him outside. You glance over at your family, and everyone is lying comfortably on the couch covered in soft warm blankets.

So you say, “I’ll go outside with him.” After finding your boots and jacket, you open the back door and walk into a miserable downpour of freezing rain. That warm spot on your couch now feels like a tropical dream compared to the cold night air you’ve stepped into.

Are you ready to tackle this type of scenario? Maybe an Easter pet would be a better idea?

With that being said, I cannot bear to see an animal left out in the cold. It makes me sick to see a dog chained up without shelter or an escape from the harsh winter temperatures. How do people get away with this kind of abuse? Sometimes I just lay in bed and pray for all the suffering animals.

Life-Changing Organizations

In one article by Cats On Catnip, they explain how F.O.W.A. R., a life-changing program, has benefited the inmates at the Pendleton Correctional Facility.

The inmates care for shelter cats that were once mistreated and had no chance of adoption. These cats are now happy and are regaining their trust in people. This genius idea has not only transformed the inmates lives but also the lives of these innocent animals.

Paws in Prison is another amazing program. In the article by adc.arkansasgov, they share how the program is working to rehabilitate inmates while giving shelter dogs a second chance at life.

Since the program began in 2011, over 1400 shelter dogs have been trained and adopted to the public. How awesome is that?

My Final Thoughts

I hope you consider the Downside of Christmas Pets before making this life-long commitment. If you are set on buying a new pet this year, please think about adopting from your local animal shelter. You have the power to save an innocent animal’s life and feel the true meaning of Christmas this year.

For more about pets, take a minute to read this heartbreaking story about the incredible love and loss of a cat.

https://thepinkbananas.com/learning-to-let-go/