“How much is that puppy in the window?” The nostalgic lyrics to that tune of yesteryear is no longer fashionable, if not outright frowned upon by animal rights advocates.
Yet, every time Yuletide rolls around, many are giving thought to surprising someone with a lovable puppy or kitten. Is it a good or bad idea?
Although there are plenty of voices on both sides of the debate, local pet adoption services are wary of the practice.
Staff at the Hall County Animal Shelter, 1688 Barber Road in Gainesville, say that the practice is alive and well, but they tend to try to discourage it whether it’s a gift at Christmas, birthdays or anniversaries.
Jordan Spurling, who works at the Animal Shelter, said staff likes to know that the animal being adopted is a good fit for the person who will be caring for the pet.
“We discourage it because we don’t know if the person that is going to get the pet and the animal will be compatible,” Spurling said.
Spurling said the shelter has seen an uptick in the number of adoption applications coming in.
“We get upticks like this at other times of the year too,” Spurling said.
Julie Edwards, executive director of the Humane Society of Northeast Georgia, said adoptions are surging heading into Christmas. Edwards said the organization loves the trend, with 72 adoptions recorded in the past 10 days as of Tuesday.
Edwards said that to facilitate adoption of some of the animals the organization relies on “Adoption Angels,” who sponsor the adoption fees to help the animals find a home faster.
However, for those who are thinking of adopting to give the pet as a gift, Edwards said the Humane Society encourages them to consider giving a gift certificate instead. She said that would assure the person receiving the certificate will drop by the Humane Society facilities, at 845 Ridge Road in Gainesville, and choose the pet best suited for the individual.
“It’s a big decision,” Edwards said of owning and caring for an animal. “It’s like having a child in the house. We encourage thoughtfulness. We want the adoption to be a forever home.”
Yet, on the other side of the debate, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals says its research has found no evidence to declare taboo the giving of pets as presents at Christmas or any time of year.
A survey conducted by the ASPCA found that 96 percent of those who acquired pets as gifts responded that it increased their attachment and commitment to the pet or had no bearing at all on their love toward the animal.
The survey is in line with earlier studies, which found that pets acquired as gifts are less likely to be relinquished than pets acquired by the individual, according to a position paper by the ASPCA attempting to dispel the notion that it’s wrong to give away pets as presents.
Lyn Mettler, a contributor to petfinder.com, said there are many bumps on the road that future pet owners should be aware of before committing. Mettler cited former ASPCA executive Stephen Zawistowski, who said many “don’t think past the initial fee required to adopt.” She said the costs can easily run hundreds of dollars each year in food and trips to the vet.
“You’re taking on the commitment to care for that animal for the rest of its life,” Mettler said.
Pet adoptions up, though pets as gifts discouraged
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