Should Pets be Presents?

It seems the logical thing to do. Someone you care about expresses a desire for a pet on more than one occasion, and you know that they are caring and kind, so where’s the harm in getting them the pet they desire as a present? They will be so happy, and you will have a warm, fuzzy feeling inside.

Unfortunately, when this decision is not well thought out, harm can come to the pet and the owner.
Caring for pets is a long-term investment on several levels. If the new owner is not prepared for this, it can cause a variety of issues.

One such investment is time. The average life span of a cat is 12-14 years Cats Protection (please see the link at the bottom of this post), and for dogs, it’s 7-14 years according to the PDSA (please see the link at the bottom of this post). The average life span reported for rabbits is longer than you might think, at 7-10 years. The time investment problem can show when an animal is given to a child as a present. How often have you heard a friend say that they end up taking care of the pet they bought for their child despite the child’s assurances that they would look after it? Changes in family circumstances can also become an issue when having a pet. For example, not all animals respond well to a baby or not having a garden to exercise in.

Having a pet also incurs a financial investment. It’s not just food and water that’s required. There are healthcare costs as well, not just when a pet becomes ill but for vaccinations, routine flea and worm treatment and neutering. The cost may be sustainable initially, but other factors, such as unexpected costs or a rising cost of living, as the UK is seeing, may make this untenable. Sadly, not everyone is able or willing to take their pet to a shelter if they can no longer take care of them.

There is an emotional investment too. For some, a pet is the only company they have for much of the time. Pets are family members, and there can be a lot of stress and upset when that family member is ill, and a difficult and painful decision has to be taken. The grief over the loss of a pet can be as intense as the loss of a human family member.

Don’t get me wrong, having a pet can be hugely beneficial, and I have had pets myself, but they are living creatures, and their long-term needs must be considered alongside those of the owner. My suggestion is if you are thinking of buying someone a pet as a gift is to not only think it through carefully but get as much input from the potential new owner as possible, even if this means telling them. It may ruin the surprise, but it will likely go better in the long run for all concerned. You could go with them to an appointment with a shelter that can go through things thoroughly with them.

Please see below the links to the articles mentioned above:

https://www.cats.org.uk/cats-blog/how-long-do-pet-cats-live

https://www.pdsa.org.uk/what-we-do/blog/how-long-do-pets-live

The opinions in this post are mine and do not reflect those of Kelp Social or its users.