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Originally Posted by kjcmsw  Yeah I suppose people might dump off an expensive dog if they didn't pay for it and it was just given to them. That's why I don't believe people should give a "gift" of an animal if that animal wasn't specifically requested (by an adult!). Years ago someone gave my mother a "retirement gift" of a Pom --- she didn't want a little dog and did go to great lengths to find it a good and caring home (and would have NEVER just dumped it at a shelter if she had not been able to find it a good home, she would have kept it, but she interviewed several people and finally settled on the one she thought could give him the best home --- and they did, they kept in touch with her over the years).
I do agree people need to think through acquiring a dog before they get it. There have been times in my life I admit to getting a dog when it probably wasn't the best time, but all my dogs have lived long lives and died (in my arms) of old age, thus even if I "shouldn't have" gotten the dog, I kept my commitment to it no matter what. Which is what people should do. Commitment is a long lost art I guess.  Post New Year's would probably be better if the holiday times are hectic. BUt for many, the holidays are merely another day, thus Christmas time can be as good as any time and if someone wants a puppy and one's available at that time, why not? So again, Christmas time can be a great time to acquire a pet...if one's lifestyle can accommodate the new little being. |
If you believe that people who pay big bucks for dogs for them selves and those dogs don't often end up in shelters you are sadly mistaken. It doesn't really matter if a person pays big bucks or get's it for free off the nearest street corner, as you said and you are correct on this , a pet is and always should be a lifelong commitment to that pet. But Sadly more people feel ( it's just an animal ) then those who believe it's a family member. This is why shelters are full of homeless pets who the majority of will never find love and happiness again and millions will die , even the ones who were purchased buy a person for themselves and not as a gift for someone else. If Christmas time is not a hectic time for a person wanting a pet then they should by all means go for it, but that's not the case with most who purchase pets as gifts and why many are rehemmed or taken to shelters. As someone here has said and I agree, if I were a breeder I would NEVER advertise my pups for sale during Any holiday. Think about this, what happens to Most rabbits purchased for kids for easter ? It's no different for the Christmas present Puppy. If we lived in a perfect world maybe it would be different , but we don't and this is Sad reality.