A Peaceful Farewell
  • Home
  • The Decision
  • What to Expect
  • Services & Fees
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Additional Services
  • Pet Loss Support
  • Pet Memorials
  • Testimonials
  • The PAW Blog
  • FAQ
  • Home
  • The Decision
  • What to Expect
  • Services & Fees
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Additional Services
  • Pet Loss Support
  • Pet Memorials
  • Testimonials
  • The PAW Blog
  • FAQ

CAUTION: Gifted Pets Often Become Returned Pets After Holidays

12/19/2014

0 Comments

 
For better or for worse, the holidays often bring new pets into our households.Your addition may have been well-planned and thoughtfully implemented, which is always the recommended course. However, many new pets end up in our homes either as gifts or as our own impulsive purchases or adoptions.

While most veterinarians never recommend giving a pet as an unexpected (i.e., surprise) gift, it happens. And when it does, it often places a pet into a household where it may not be all that welcome. As a result, that pet often ends up surrendered to a shelter or rescue shortly after the holidays conclude.

Impulsive purchases are a bit different but the result is often the same. When the addition of a pet is unplanned, new pet owners may find themselves in a position where they are financially or physically unable to care for the new pet. Or they may simply have second thoughts about having the pet in the household.

Whatever the reason, the period immediately following the holidays unfortunately finds a lot of puppies, kittens, dogs, cats, and other pets being surrendered to shelters and rescues. For some shelters and rescues, this happens less frequently than for others. Shelters and rescues that screen adopters carefully and prohibit the adoption of a pet as a gift for someone else are probably less likely to see as many returns. However, not all shelters have the luxury of being so discerning.

What happens when a pet is returned to a shelter or surrendered to a rescue after the holidays? That animal, which may have already had time to begin to bond with its new family, is now placed back into a cage. He certainly does not understand what he did to deserve to be abandoned again. He does not understand that his "new people" did not plan adequately for him or never wanted him to begin with. For that animal, the situation becomes stressful, depressing, and frightening.

Can these animals be re-homed a second time? Yes, many of them will adjust to another home, which hopefully will be better prepared for the arrival of the new pet. Some of these animals may still need training, especially in the case of young or adolescent puppies, which may not have received adequate house training guidance and/or socialization in their previous, short-lived home. But they can still make good pets for someone willing to take the time.

Many of these pets will become loving and loyal companions. That is assuming, though, that a new home can be located. Unfortunately, that is often easier said than done, and too many pets end up meeting an unpleasant end when there are no new homes for them.

What is the moral of the story? If you did not adopt a pet this holiday season, hopefully you already know that the holidays are perhaps not the best time of year to adopt a new pet and, likewise, hopefully you will never make the mistake of adopting a pet you are not prepared to care for.

If you did adopt a pet, for yourself or for someone else, and now find yourself in a position where surrendering that pet is inevitable, accept that you made a serious mistake in judgment. Learn from that mistake and vow never to repeat it. After all, it is not really you that suffers for this transgression. It is the pet that pays the ultimate price!

A Peaceful Farewell provides compassionate at home pet euthanasia to fellow pet owners in Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Tempe, Ahwatukee, Scottsdale, and most of the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    The PAW Blog...
    For the LOVE of Pets
    The goal of this blog is to help educate pet owners by sharing pet health facts and pet news articles...and ... sometimes put a smile on your face with a cute or funny pet story! 

    Categories

    All
    Animal World Records
    Behavior
    Cat FAQ
    Cat Health
    Celebrity Pets
    Cute Pet Pics
    Cute Pet Stories
    Dog Health
    Dogs FAQ
    Dogs - FAQ
    Farm Animals
    Featured Breeds
    Fish And Exotic Pets
    Funny Pet Pictures
    Funny Pet Stuff
    Gift Ideas
    Health Alerts
    Holistic Pet Care
    Lost And Found AZ Pets
    Nutrition
    People & Pets
    Pet Adoption
    Pet Books
    Pet Facts
    Pet Gadgets & Supplies
    Pet Loss
    Pet Names
    Pet News
    Pet Nutrition
    Pet Of The Week
    Pet Poisons FAQ
    Pet Polls
    Pet Recipes
    Pet Rescue
    Pets With Cancer
    Pet Technology
    Pet Training
    Pet Travel
    Pet Trivia
    Pet Videos
    Pocket Pets
    Poisonous Plants
    Quick Tips
    Rainbow Bridge
    Recalls
    Research News
    Upcoming Local Pet Events
    Veterinary FAQ
    Weird Pet Stuff
    Wildlife

    Archives

    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    September 2019
    August 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    August 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    February 2018
    September 2017
    July 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014

    Search for any topic...

    RSS Feed

Providing compassionate in-home pet euthanasia to fellow pet owners in Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa, Tempe, Ahwatukee, Scottsdale, and most of the Greater Phoenix Metropolitan Area
(480) 760-5896
email: [email protected]
Picture


Proud Member of the American Veterinary Medical Association

Picture


Proud Member of the AZ Pet Professionals