Presents That Wiggle |
| People often warn against buying live animals during the holidays: No bunnies at Easter, no turkeys to raise for Thanksgiving, and no puppies or kittens at Christmas. We also turn around and recommend getting a new pet when you have some time off from work to acclimate the pet to your schedule. Hmmm. So if you have a week to 10 days off with your kids during the Holiday, what better time to coordinate the addition of a new four legged family member? Good point. So if you are considering opting out of going to Grandma's this year, it might be just the time to create that childhood magical moment when the box under the tree is making noises! Here's how it's done. |
| First, research the types of pets you would like (or the kids have been asking for) and ask professionals how much they actually cost and how much care is involved over how many years. Many people don't know that Chinchillas are fairly long lived. If your daughter has been asking and she's three years from going to college, you'll need to know the dorm's policy on furry roommates. If you've been thinking about a family dog but no one in the family has taken up search and r
escue or marathon training, maybe a German Shepherd is just not the right choice for you. Who are the professionals that can advise you? Breeders of these pets are a start but only a start. All breeders think their particular pet is the best one. That is if they are responsible. If they are just trying to sell you a product then they will convince you their choice is best even when they know it's not going to work out for you. So ask veterinarians, pet trainers, neighbors who may have had a bad experience and look for a club of pet owners on the internet. Rescue organizations are the best source of information on what it really takes to care for any particular pet as well as a source of actual pets matched to your needs. |
| Second, plan ahead. Most reputable pet breeders have an application process and a waiting list for baby animals if a baby is right for you. Bringing new lives into the world requires finding a place for them where they will be safe and properly cared for in advance. Therefore, if there is an ad in the paper for a baby animal ready in time for Christmas, consider carefully why the breeder is in need of a classified. Are the puppies hard to sell because the mother growls at visitors? Puppies do inherit behavior traits from their parents. Are there so many hamsters that there are always young ones in need of placement? Commonly, is the pet offered in the advertisement one purchased last Christmas that isn't working out? If the answers to these questions concern you, avoid the purchase. |
| Third, consider finances. There is pet insurance for medical emergencies. Pets over 7 years old don't qualify and the insurance costs a few hundred dollars per year. This is great if you have any emergencies. If you don't, putting a few hundred dollars in the bank every year is a better option. Tough call. Food, equipment including fences and cages can be costly. You should install and purchase these ahead of time. Even if you delay getting the pet, it's so much easier to raise a puppy inside a fence than to teach an older dog to stop digging under a newly installed one. A baby bird raised by hand seems harmless enough, but teaching him to stay in cage when you go to work so he won't eat the venetian blinds is easier if you start that way. A bird cage with room for a baby bird to climb and eventually fly is going to be expensive and you need a large draft-free place to put the cage. |
| Fourth, save a life. Rescue Groups and Shelters like the Frederick Animal Control Center receive millions of animals each year that didn't work out, for a number of reasons like failure to consider the above. Because of this, groups that rescue animals have adoption counselors to guide you through the process. They can answer all the questions above and so many more. Properly preparing for your family pet is the best way to succeed. Teaching children to care for a pet (always with your help) is a part of a wonderful childhood. No one wants this lesson to fail but so many families do just that. Ask any shelter worker or rescue volunteers how many pets they take on each year. |
| Fifth, have realistic expectations. Few of us expect a roommate, spouse or child to make us happy all the time. We may feel as if an inanimate object such as a car or new tool should work without a problem, but pets are alive. They fall into the category of the gifts that will make mistakes, break stuff, and even cause some family stress. But unlike a car or a tool, they can learn and interact, teach and comfort, which is much more than you can expect from a box under the tree that doesn't smell funny or squeak. So think about it, write to Santa, and call your local shelter for help with your plan. |
