I'm sure you've seen the various memes, PSAs, and articles telling you not to give a puppy (or kitten) as a gift this Christmas. I hope you have the time and inclination to sit through one more public service announcement, and take the words to heart.
I've told you before about how carefully you should consider getting a German Shepherd Dog, but allow me to take that one step farther--you should carefully consider the decision of getting any pet, and especially if you are considering it as a Christmas gift.
The long and short of it is simple: getting a puppy is like having a child. It is not a commitment that you can put aside when it becomes tiring (it will) or when you lose your patience (you will) or when you don't have time to do right by the puppy (you won't.) Maybe your children are older now and you've been seriously considering the addition of a pet to your family.
Christmas may be a fun and appropriate time for you to do that. But in most situations, puppies are not good Christmas gift material.
Once the tree is down and the lights packed away for another year, you still have a puppy. You will probably be the one caring for that puppy, regardless of whose name was on the gift tag. House training, obedience, exercise, food, vet care, all of these things continue for the life of the dog, regardless of the date on the calendar. Please consider these things.
So many of our rescue dogs are not "problem" dogs. They are simply dogs that were acquired without thought, and who in turn proved to be more than their owners were willing to handle. Yes, rescues and no kill shelters exist. Consider, though, the severe limitations of these organizations. For every dog we are able to save, literally hundreds of thousands of other dogs are lost or forgotten, both during the holiday season and all year long.
Please, please, be a part of the solution, not part of the problem. Do not get a dog or cat on a whim. Make sure you are ready for the commitment. And if you and your family have decided it is time to add that precious member to your family, remember, adopt, don't shop! Millions of dogs and cats are waiting in rescues and shelters to become your lifelong companion!
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from our homes to yours!
