TASSO warns against impulsive purchases
Sulzbach/Ts. The Christmas balls glitter festively on the Christmas tree, fairy lights decorate the room. The whole family gathered to open the presents. And suddenly there he is, the little puppy with the big big eyes and the fluffy fur – he's wearing a bow around his neck. Every year, a number of dogs, cats and small pets end up under the Christmas tree because many people still think they are the perfect gift. But what at first glance seems like a loving gesture usually has fatal consequences for the animal. The animal protection organization TASSO, which runs Europe's largest free pet registry, would like to warn against ill-considered impulse purchases as part of the “Responsible Animal Husbandry” educational project: Animals are not gifts that can simply be exchanged again if necessary.
For children, giving gifts to animals is often at the top of their wish list. Despite the initial promises to walk the dog regularly, clean the litter box or look after the rabbit enclosure, over time the supposed playmates and cuddle partners can become too strenuous or uninteresting. The work then remains primarily with the parents, who ultimately always bear the main responsibility for the animal. But even for adults, the animal gift can quickly lead to differences of opinion and arguments – if, for example, the financial burden and long-term responsibility were not taken into account in advance.
Traumatic consequences for the animal
The often ill-considered spontaneous purchases usually have serious consequences for the animals. Many are surrendered to the animal shelter a few weeks or months after the holidays or, worse yet, simply abandoned. “Overwhelmed owners, agreements not being kept, financial bottlenecks or the realization that the four-legged friend is doing more work than expected are common reasons for surrender,” says Heike Weber, Head of Animal Welfare at TASSO. She emphasizes that animals suffer both physically and psychologically from neglect, sudden rejection or loss of their home.
Dependent on care for the rest of their life
Species-appropriate nutrition, sufficient exercise, contact with other dogs, attention and affection: regardless of whether they are dogs, cats or small pets such as rabbits or guinea pigs, they all depend on the care of their people throughout their lives. In order to enable them to live a species-appropriate life, pet owners must respond to their individual needs. “Those interested in animals must be aware that owning an animal not only requires a lot of time, knowledge and patience, but also costs money over many years. In addition to the equipment, food and insurance, there are regular veterinary costs. If the animal becomes seriously ill at some point in its life, very high expenses can quickly arise,” explains Weber.
Don't rush anything
TASSO advises all animal lovers who are thinking about having animal offspring:
- to use the quiet time after the holidays and check whether an animal – with all the aspects that go with it – fits into your life in the long term,
- to clarify whether all family members agree
- to find out extensively in advance about the animal you want and its needs,
- to choose the first route to the animal shelter, because there are numerous dogs, cats and even small pets waiting for a new home.