WASHINGTON—The HSUS is warning against giving live animals as
gifts for the holiday season. Animals come with big
responsibilities, and the person receiving them might not be
prepared to provide for the animal’s care, according to the
organization's pet experts.
"Pets are a serious, long-term commitment and the decision
to include a pet in a home should come after careful
consideration," said Stephanie Shain, director of outreach for
The HSUS' companion animals programs. "Pets can end up being
relinquished to animal shelters due to a person’s lack of time
or financial resources"
In addition, though that puppy or kitten in the window of
the pet store may look irresistible, pet stores are often
stocked by “puppy mills,” mass breeding facilities that often
subject animals to inhumane conditions in the pursuit of
profits. Animals from these facilities can suffer from
behavioral and physical problems which may not be obvious right
away.
Instead, give small children a “stuffed animal” and a book
or video on pet care. For a family considering adding a pet to
their home, books or videos on pet care; collars, leashes,
toys, or a gift certificate covering the adoption fee at a
local shelter make great gift ideas. Adoption from animal
shelters, where many wonderful pets await loving, permanent
homes, saves lives. The HSUS offers a myriad of other gift
ideas on its web site - www.hsus.org.
If you are considering giving yourself a pet for the
holidays, wait until after the holiday commotion settles down
to help your new arrival adapt to his or her new home. The HSUS
urges people to adopt from local animal shelters, where up to a
quarter of all dogs are purebreds.
"Even if you have your heart set on a purebred puppy, your
local shelter may have the dog you're looking for or can refer
you to a local breed rescue group," said Shain.
If you are considering an exotic pet such as a reptile, be
aware that all reptiles can carry salmonella bacteria that can
be transmitted to humans. Exotic pets require specialized care
that may be difficult for the average owner to provide. Some
states and counties restrict ownership of exotic pets because
of the public health and safety threat that they can pose.
Additionally, many exotic pets were captured from the wild,
contributing to population declines.
"Dogs and cats have been domesticated over millions of years
to share our homes and be a part of the family," concluded
Shain. "With many wonderful animals waiting for homes in animal
shelters, there's simply no justification for buying an exotic
pet." The HSUS is the nation's largest animal protection
organization with over seven million members and constituents.
The HSUS is a mainstream voice for animals, with active
programs in companion animals, wildlife and habitat protection,
animals in research and farm animals and sustainable
agriculture. For nearly 50 years, The HSUS has protected all
animals through legislation, litigation, investigation,
education, advocacy and field work. The non-profit organization
is based in Washington, DC and has 10 regional offices across
the country. For more information, visit The HSUS’ Web site –
www.hsus.org.
