Especially during the Christmas season, you naturally want to fulfill many of your children's or loved ones' wishes. This is where resistance from parents and children often melts away children's wishes after a pet is given in.But the Acquiring an animal must be carefully thought out. Otherwise evil will awaken after the holidays. Material gifts can be exchanged if you don't like them, but an animal can't!
Advertising
That's why we're starting ours this year too “Don’t give animals for Christmas” campaign and ask for your support. How can you help with this?
- Send this link to your friends and acquaintances
- For example, link this campaign on your homepage. You can find an image to use at the end of the article.
- Share this article on social media like Facebook, Twitter & Co
Why no animals under the Christmas tree?
In our guide you will find good reasons with detailed explanations and examples, Why you shouldn't give animals for Christmas – whether young dogs, cats or rabbits.
Do all family members agree?
If not everyone in the family agrees with the purchase of the animal, it can lead to problems. When purchasing an animal, especially a dog, everyone has to support this wish.
Are there any allergies?
If allergies run in the family, getting an animal on Christmas Eve can be a disaster. There is no time here to test whether you are allergic to the dog, cat, small animal or whatever animal. Spending Christmas Eve in the hospital because of a bad allergic shock is definitely not the Christmas you imagined.
Are parents prepared to take on the main responsibility?
When giving children animals, many parents don't consider that, depending on the child's age, they will have to do most of the work. I can't send a 10-year-old child out the door with a big dog for a walk; the parents are responsible here. But even with small animals, as a parent you always have to be there and help. If the child suddenly “no longer wants” the animal, you continue to be responsible and cannot simply throw the animal away. Animals are living beingswho bind themselves to people and are dependent on them. Unfortunately, in our “throwaway society” too many animals end up in animal shelters or, even worse, small animals are simply abandoned. However, our pets cannot survive in the wild and are usually faced with certain death!
Are you planning your next family vacation?
At Christmas, most people don't think about the next holiday. Is there any guarantee that I can entrust the animal to someone when I go on vacation? I can plan a dog on my next vacation, but not a small animal. The awakening often comes when planning the next vacation. The animal shelters are booming again in the summer months because the “Christmas animals” were not included in the planning.
Have ongoing costs been taken into account?
Have the costs incurred for the new animal family member also been taken into account? The purchase alone is not enough. A dog costs taxes, the next visit to the vet is on the agenda and of course the animal also wants something to eat. Even with small animals, many people forget that the small cage from the pet store does not meet their needs at all. Is there even enough space for the guinea pigs or rabbits (small animals, except for some species such as the hamster never kept alone). When you start to think about the conditions in which small animals are kept, you quickly realize that they need a lot more space than you thought!
Many people don't think about the fact that such an animal can literally eat the hair off your head, especially in the health sector. A complex fracture in a dog or hip dysplasia can quickly cost thousands. But even a mouse that was perhaps bought for 5 euros needs to be treated if it has an infection, etc. Here they exceed Veterinary costs the initial purchase costs very quickly. However, every animal must be treated, regardless of how much it cost to acquire it!
How old will my new animal be?
Now that the animal is here, the question suddenly arises: how old will it actually get? Depending on size and breed, a dog can live between 8 and 15 years. Cats can also sometimes reach a proud age of up to 20 years (but mostly between 10 and 15 years). Rabbits and guinea pigs can live to a great age of up to 10 years. Can I really take responsibility for this time in the long term? What if the children grow up and want to move out? Does the animal stay at home and can the parents continue to care for it? Has it been considered that very small animals (mice, rats, hamsters, etc.) usually only live around 2 years? Can smaller children in particular handle the fact that the animal leaves you so quickly? This consideration in particular must be taken into account in advance and not only after you have purchased an animal.
Christmas time is not a good time to get to know each other and get used to things
It's Christmas, the holidays are just around the corner. The children are excited, relatives come to visit, you go to Grandma and Grandpa's for Christmas dinner. There is hectic activity. Now there is a small dog, a cat, a small animal or whatever cute rascal. Brand new, brand new. Nobody knows, maybe the animal is still afraid.
Now it should be integrated into the family, where there is such a hustle and bustle, you might be out and about yourself and have the time for yourself quiet getting to know each other doesn't really add up at all. This is not a good start for either the animal or the family.
From Christmas it goes straight into the New Year's Eve celebrations. Maybe visits from relatives have already been planned, the children want fireworks at the table or there was even an outside celebration planned.
Then this poor animal – who hasn't really joined the family yet – sits at home all alone at midnight when the fireworks go off and doesn't know what's happening around him. Without prior planning, it is impossible to get to know each other, let alone build a basis for trust.
Doubtful origin of the animals
Small animals are often bought in the pet store. However, one should keep in mind that animals from pet stores in particular were bred under less than ideal conditions. You can't call it breeding, because it's mass production, especially with mice, rats and hamsters. When it comes to cats and dogs, people like to get a perceived bargain. There are plenty of advertisements for this in newspapers and on the Internet.
But if you think carefully about “where do I get the animal” beforehand, you will notice that these “cheap animals” and Animals from pet stores are often ill and have behavioral problems. No wonder when you think about how these cheap animals are produced.
Reputable animal shelters do not adopt animals before Christmas
To the “Animals for Christmas” mentality To counteract this, many animal shelters provide them before Christmas Surrender of animals a – even a responsible breeder only gives away his animals around/on Christmas after prior planning.
It is better to give away a “voucher” at Christmas and then sit down with all family members after Christmas to discuss purchasing an animal. In all peace and without stress can then be weighed preciselywhether a Animal fits into the family situation at all and whether everyone agrees! We hope that our reasons why one Don't give animals for Christmas We want to reach as many people as possible in time before December 24th and call once again to support our campaign!
Please help educate our fellow human beings and
- Send this link to your friends and acquaintances
- For example, link this campaign on your homepage
- Share this article on social media like Facebook, Twitter & Co
