Adopting a pet is a great experience, and it is possibly the best money you will ever spend. If happiness could be purchased, it would be in the shape of a pet.
Giving dogs as gifts to friends and family, on the other hand, may not be the best choice.
Just because animals appear cute beneath the Christmas tree doesn't mean they're ideal Christmas presents.
Taking care of animals is a huge responsibility, and they should never be given as presents carelessly.
Many individuals who get animals as gifts realize that, no matter how much they want to, they are unable to make the lifelong commitment to caring for their new animal friend.
It is a lifetime commitment
Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images
A pet can be a wonderful present, most people would be delighted to unwrap their gift and see a puppy or kitten emerge, as per One Green Planet.
However, that individual may not have a pet for a variety of reasons, or even if they have, they may not have another for the same reason.
You never know whether or not someone will be able to care for a new pet.
We all adore our dogs, but they aren't cheap; it's a fact of life. Food, medicine, veterinarian appointments, living space, time, and energy are all necessities for pets.
Adopting a pet is a commitment since they require so much.
Animal shelters are overflowing with homeless animals, many of which were formerly "pets," simply because a youngster lost interest in them and no one else stepped in to train and care for them.
Dogs require daily outside exercise, and training a puppy takes a significant amount of time, and youngsters are not old enough to undertake this task, as per PETA.
Has the individual indicated a desire to acquire a pet?
What kind of animal, and what species, would be a suitable match? (A well-behaved adult dog or a middle-aged lap cat, for example, is often a better fit than a high-energy puppy or kitten.)
If a relative decides to support an animal, each family member should go to the local shelter together to choose another animal after discussing the responsibilities and long-term obligations involved.
If you offer an animal as a present, there's a strong possibility the receiver didn't want one in the first place, which might lead to mistreatment.
The very worst situation is that they simply do not care for the pet you have given them. This is always a possibility, and it's a frightening one.
They may not have desired a pet or dislike the one you selected for them. Or they may have a strong desire for a pet but is looking for a certain breed.
They might not be able to connect with each other
Another danger of giving a pet as a present is that the recipient and the pet may not be able to form a relationship.
One of the most significant advantages of adopting an animal for yourself is the opportunity to spend time with the animal prior to adoption.
This allows you to form a relationship with the animal and determine whether your personalities are compatible.
You are robbing someone of their right to choose their own pet when you give them one. This might end up with their personalities at odds.
Giving a very quiet and peaceful individual a very rambunctious and boisterous dog, for example, isn't going to go down very well.
It is critical that dogs and their owners have some characteristics. They will be able to form stronger relationships and become better companions as a result.
