PETS AS PRESENTS
DON'T GIVE A GIFT WITH A TAIL


By Dr. Bobbie Mammato
MSN

When my children open their holiday presents, I like to believe I've made
their dreams come true. A new doll, a book, a computer game, even viscous
alien slime; this is the stuff of my kids' fantasies. But one thing you'll
never find on my holiday shopping list is a new pet.

Don't toy with an animal's life
As parents, we've all seen our children beg for a new toy, only to forget
about it days get right down to it, it's OK for them to be outgrown. A pet, however, is a
living being with a long life span that deserves respect and care. When we
put a ribbon and bow on a living creature, we blur the line between animals
and toys. And we teach our children to regard their pets as objects.

Often, the decision to give a pet as a gift is made on the spur of the
moment. In an instant, you skip over the numerous questions you should be
asking yourself as a prospective pet owner:

*    Do you have the money? Cats, dogs, and ferrets need to see the vet at
least once a year.
*    Do you have the time? Some dogs need three to four walks daily. All
dogs need exercise, grooming, training, and other time spent with their
owners.
*    Do you have the right lifestyle? Get a pet, and gone are the days of
spontaneous vacations.

Not ready for a living, breathing pet? Try the Teckno puppy instead. No
feeding required (aside from batteries that is).

Pick a pet as a family
Ideally, the entire family should pick out a pet together, so that you can
test how well any individual pet will get along with your children. Giving a
pet as a present makes this crucial step impossible.

Even if you've discussed a pet with your kids, birthdays and holidays are
still probably not the right time to introduce an animal into the home. The
holidays are a high-energy time when most of us get off our normal schedule.
A pet can easily get lost in the flood of gifts and the shuffle of family or
social commitments. Your new pet will need time to adjust to his new
environment. He also will need to learn where things are, get used to a new
diet, go through potty training, and learn the rules of your household.
These are big adjustments for any pet, and they should take place during a
time of normal household activity. It is OK to start talking about getting a
family pet during the holidays, but wait for at least a month to bring this
new life into your home.

Here's the tragic truth about gift animals at holiday time: Three months
later, half-grown puppies and kittens crowd the shelters and run loose on
the streets. (Chickens, ducks, and rabbits are all-too-common casualties
after Easter.) The true test of a family's readiness to care for a pet is
whether all members are prepared not only for the fun and love they'll
enjoy, but also for the responsibility that comes with it. So this holiday
season, make your children's dreams come true with gifts wrapped in paper,
plastic, and tinsel. But leave gifts with hearts, tails, and whiskers for
another time.