 Gifts
I don't know what is wrong with considering them as gifts instead of as companions. Every animal I ever had growing up was a gift and I had them for long periods of time, not just a couple of months. It wouldn't matter when the kind of people that get a dog and give it away or resell it got it. It would still be the case any other time of the year. Parents that think their kids are going to do all the work are just deluding themselves. Taking care of a puppy is a family job and kids can't (usually) do it alone or won't.
Again, gift, companion, what's the difference, except maybe it is like this: my husband is a companion and fully capable of taking care of his self. My children are gifts from God and I have to take care of them. I don't see how an animal can be a companion since we have to care for them completely and totally as we would our children.
Maybe gift has a negative conotation in today's world where everyone returns the gifts other's take a labor of love and time to buy them. I cherish gifts given to me because of the spirit and see nothing wrong w/ the term gift. Again, gift or not, there are some people who are going to not take care of and appreciate the pets they get when work is involved. PERIOD It is unfortunate. I would sure rather them resale it or return it than for the puppy to have to grow up being resented and mistreated. |