'Not just for Christmas': Think twice before gifting or buying pets
By adopting a pet, not only are you giving an animal a chance at a better life, but you’re also making room to help another in need.
Locals are being advised to think twice before considering gifting or buying pets this Christmas.
If you are thinking of getting a dog as a pet, firstly consider if your home and family lifestyle are suited to keeping a dog for its lifetime.
ISPCA Senior Inspector, Alice Lacey spoke to the Waterford News & Star this week about the issue of people prematurely taking in a new pet during the Christmas season.
She said: “This time of the year is a time when people on a whim or last minute will be buying pups," she said, “If people are gifting animals on a whim, they have to remember, it’s a 10, 15, sometimes 20-year commitment."
"We’re against any form of puppy breeding; we always say if people are considering it, even if it’s Christmas time, to consider visiting your local shelter, or checking the ISPCA website to see what animals are looking for new homes."
Ms. Lacey warned that rogue breeders are much more active during the Christmas season.
She added: “Christmas time is a hectic time for everybody, its chaotic and most households have a very different routine than they would throughout the year and there’s a lot of stuff going on. It’s not always a good idea to bring a new pup or kitten into a home like that where there isn’t a set routine, but all too often we find that happens.”
Ms. Lacey added that animal charities do tend to see an increase in pups being abandoned in the months after Christmas.
“Usually a couple of months down the line after Christmas, we would find the pup has grown, has gotten bigger and maybe hasn’t been house trained, that’s when we find that there are increased numbers of calls about animals being abandoned or offloaded in rescue shelters. Come springtime, some people feel like the novelty has worn off and that’s when we feel animals are being abandoned."
Denise McCausland, ISPCA National Head of Animal Welfare, commented: “Our kennels are at full capacity, with countless animals yet to be reported and rescued, in desperate need of these life-saving spaces.
"By adopting a pet, not only are you giving an animal a chance at a better life, but you’re also making room to help another in need. During this season, we also urge the public to avoid buying puppies online or supporting rogue breeders."
She continued: “It’s also vital to ensure you’re ready for the long-term commitment of caring for a pet. Animals deserve a lifetime of love and stability - not just a seasonal gesture. Adoption saves lives, and it’s the ultimate act of kindness.”
