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GRAND RAPIDS — A cute puppy or kitten might have made a fun Christmas present, but what about the next day when your cute little gift soils the rug?
Or, the day after that, when you have to be at work and now must make pet-sitting arrangements?
Scenarios like this illustrate why many animals bought at the pet store in December will end up at the local animal shelter or Humane Society by Valentine’s Day.
Both organizations generally see an increase in pet surrenders in the first months of the year, a spike that pet experts say is attributed in part to well-meaning gift-givers who don’t quite think through everything pet ownership entails.
“If you think about what the average family household has going on around the holidays, that’s generally not a good environment to introduce a new pet into,” said Carly Luttmann, program supervisor at the Kent County Animal Shelter.
For that reason, the shelter, as well as the Humane Society of West Michigan, discourage or deny gift adoptions around the holidays, a time when traffic in pet adoptions increases for a variety of reasons not necessarily related to gift-giving.
At the Humane Society, Jennifer Self-Aulgur, humane education coordinator, says the staff gives people looking to adopt for a relative a gift certificate instead.
It’s a common move for pet shelters who want the person taking ownership of the animal to be the one who goes through the adoption process. People are encouraged to wrap up a bone or dog collar, or give a card of some kind and bring the pet home later.
Owning a pet should be a family decision, say both organizations. At the Humane Society, they often see a mom and dad bring the kids with in beaming smiles, because “we’re getting a puppy today.”
“That’s a big difference than the brother who comes in to get a dog for mom,” said Self-Aulgur.
It doesn’t always register with people that their cute new puppy will need food and training, said Luttmann.
“They don’t really think past, ‘That is cute. I want it now,” she said. “Were talking about a 15-year commitment in most cases. It’s a living, breathing animal.
“This takes some thought.”
Still, not every gift adoption is destined for failure, she said. People can be very resilient to change. Nonetheless, a new pet is a “big upheaval.”
At the shelter, the adoption process includes some “getting acquainted” time with the animal, and an application that covers the basics of the household. They try not to adopt to renters who have landlords that don’t allow pets.
Then, there’s a session with a trained counselor who shares staff observations about the animal’s temperament and what they know about the health history. Eventually, if all goes well, the new pet owners pay their fees and leave with the new family member.
The counseling includes discussion about bringing the pet back if it doesn’t work out. The shelter would rather have the pet come back than become abused, neglected or put out on the street.
“The conversation is very educational,” said Luttmann.
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Or, the day after that, when you have to be at work and now must make pet-sitting arrangements?
Scenarios like this illustrate why many animals bought at the pet store in December will end up at the local animal shelter or Humane Society by Valentine’s Day.
Both organizations generally see an increase in pet surrenders in the first months of the year, a spike that pet experts say is attributed in part to well-meaning gift-givers who don’t quite think through everything pet ownership entails.
“If you think about what the average family household has going on around the holidays, that’s generally not a good environment to introduce a new pet into,” said Carly Luttmann, program supervisor at the Kent County Animal Shelter.
For that reason, the shelter, as well as the Humane Society of West Michigan, discourage or deny gift adoptions around the holidays, a time when traffic in pet adoptions increases for a variety of reasons not necessarily related to gift-giving.
At the Humane Society, Jennifer Self-Aulgur, humane education coordinator, says the staff gives people looking to adopt for a relative a gift certificate instead.
It’s a common move for pet shelters who want the person taking ownership of the animal to be the one who goes through the adoption process. People are encouraged to wrap up a bone or dog collar, or give a card of some kind and bring the pet home later.
Owning a pet should be a family decision, say both organizations. At the Humane Society, they often see a mom and dad bring the kids with in beaming smiles, because “we’re getting a puppy today.”
“That’s a big difference than the brother who comes in to get a dog for mom,” said Self-Aulgur.
It doesn’t always register with people that their cute new puppy will need food and training, said Luttmann.
“They don’t really think past, ‘That is cute. I want it now,” she said. “Were talking about a 15-year commitment in most cases. It’s a living, breathing animal.
“This takes some thought.”
Still, not every gift adoption is destined for failure, she said. People can be very resilient to change. Nonetheless, a new pet is a “big upheaval.”
At the shelter, the adoption process includes some “getting acquainted” time with the animal, and an application that covers the basics of the household. They try not to adopt to renters who have landlords that don’t allow pets.
Then, there’s a session with a trained counselor who shares staff observations about the animal’s temperament and what they know about the health history. Eventually, if all goes well, the new pet owners pay their fees and leave with the new family member.
The counseling includes discussion about bringing the pet back if it doesn’t work out. The shelter would rather have the pet come back than become abused, neglected or put out on the street.
“The conversation is very educational,” said Luttmann.
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