BellaOnline Forums Home and Garden Exotic Pets Animals as Gifts - Why Not?

Animals given as gifts is a much discussed topic. Can you give the gift of an animal for a holiday gift? A pet can make a good gift if it is done properly. This article will tell you exactly how and what! How do you feel about animals given as gifts? Read the article I think you will be glad you did.

Animals as Gifts - Why Not?

Thank you Francine. I think I have my household in mind during the holidays, once it's over it is over Giving an animal should not be done close to the holiday but it is certainly a time that can begin the think and research process. I think it is healthy for parents and a child to learn about the pet together. When all preparations are made, especially learning how to properly care for the animal. The accessories make a delightful present. When the holiday is said and done then the animal can be picked up.

Of course, this depends ON the child and for that matter the parent, their living situation, the type of pet, and how the parent looks at responsibility. If Jonny doesn't do one thing, the parent takes over....BAD BAD parent!

Pets-animals on matter when they enter a household is a huge responsibility, no pet is a throw-a-way pet - ever!

I would have said I would be absolutely against giving an animal as a gift but after reading the article it makes perfect sense. Especially in today's economy. The process of determining a pet is a long drawn out affair. What better time for reality than during the holiday madness. As Diana pointed out the pet isn't given until the house has settled into normalcy. If you are planning a pet anyway, the child is on holiday, you would have plenty of time to spend TOGETHER as a family to learn about the care of the pet and to discuss the responsibly of a pet without harping on just the negative features.

Yes, great article Diana, I do hear children ask for 'such and such' a pet for Christmas, Ive heard it among my own family, though I thank God they are wise enough not to take heed, if they know it is only a whim with the child. I am guilty of doing it though myself, many years ago, I bought a long haired smoky grey tom kitten for my daughter, many Christmas's ago, in fact 16 of them. I put him in a box and tied him up with a ribbon, Charlotte my daughter had just got married and was moving to a new home with her new husband, so this would be her last Christmas gift at home , so to speak. She wanted to put the box under the Christmas tree, to which we had to coax her not to do that, and in fact she would be best to open it right there and then, she wasnt very forthcoming about that, didnt like opening prezzies before the day. But with much coaxing she did open it, to find her surprise, a bundle of grey fluff, which she named Fitz. She still has him today, he's old and just lays around now, she is an extreme animal lover, much to my joy, just as I am, I dont go on holiday because of my pets, I like to know they are looked after well. I hope Fitz has many more years left, he's a very blessed cat to have Charlotte as his owner.

As someone who has adopted many lost or more possibly discarded pet birds over the years I agree that research and planning is important. I've had about a handful of lost paraketes come into my home, and a cockatiel and a conure. The paraketes and conure were found in the wild by others, owners could not be found. The cockatiel we had was given to someone who then gave it to us. All these pets, once wanted spur of the moment unfortunately weren't well looked after. We were very blessed to have them in our home, but it saddens me that so many are "thrown" away.

As a worker with a Rescue Group, I would be totally against the giving of ANY animal as a gift for whatever reason. I've seen too many (hundreds) of tragic results - for the poor animal - to ever approve of this. Animals are not "things" - they are living creatures with feelings and needs.

To begin with, NEVER purchase a pet from a pet shop. To do so is to support the evil Puppy Mill trade.

Any purchase of a pet should be something entered into after careful research - on whether or not a person is able to provide possibly 16 years of loving, responsible care for a dog or cat, which includes suitable housing (fencing) and whether the family as a whole is prepared to take responsibility for the animal during its lifetime - including costs of medical care - which can mount into thousands of dollars, especially as the pet ages. Where will the pet go when the owners go on holidays? Do they have the financial security to provide the best for the pet in all situations?

Also,the type of pet - is it high maintenance? If so, are they prepared to comb and groom it every few days? Are they prepared to walk it regularly if it is a dog? - and are you SURE that the person you give this pet to is going to carry out ALL of the above?

I'm sorry. But this philosophy has brought more pain and misery upon innocent animals than most of you could be aware. I've worked in this field for 11 years, and this kind of well meaning philosophy gives me the horrors.

My absolute favorite Christmas memory ever is the Christmas when I was 7 years old and I came out into the living room on Christmas morning to see a box moving around under the tree. Then I saw that the box had holes in it...I got so excited and went running over to discover my wonderful new baby bunny! My sister got one too. The rules were spelled out for us and everything having to do with caring for the rabbits went onto our chores lists. Those wonderful bunnies were part of our family until they died as happy, lazy, very old bunnies. Best. Christmas present. EVER.

Hello Nicole! Thank you for sharing the touching story. I can just imagine how wide your eyes were and how excited you were when you saw that box moving!

This is one of the times that giving a gift on a holiday did work out. But, unfortunately many animals end up in rescues or worst.

How did you folks go about teaching you how to care for the pet bunny? Also, I am also curious if your bunny liked to be held. Yes, I am compiling data

One time my oldest brother was going to bring me home a cockatoo when he went on a trip. When he returned I could see white inside the cage, it turned out to be a baby bunny. I love rabbits we had a great time together.