Long-term commitment may lead to giving pet away

If you're planning to give a pet as a gift, animal experts urge you to think carefully. After the holidays, unwanted Christmas pets often become too much for new owners to handle.

"We always receive an influx of surrendered animals received at Christmas," said Ronda Steciuk, director of the Shelby Humane Society in Columbiana. "Sometimes it's February or March, when the puppies are 10 or 12 weeks old and starting to do things that annoy people - chewing and being very active.

"People with good intentions think Grandma needs a companion. People need to think about the reasons Grandma doesn't already have a pet."

Some people who receive pets as gifts don't have the means for on-going care, whether it's food, vet bills or attention and training.

Shelter and rescue groups say everyone in a family should discuss getting a new pet ahead of time, to ensure everyone wants it and is educated about the animal.

"The breeds have very different attributes," said Donna Farmer of the Birmingham Boston Terrier Rescue group. "Some are really good with kids, some aren't. Some need lots of activity, some just want to lie around. Do the research first."

Agencies that match pets with new owners are often selective during the adoption process, especially around the holidays.

"Some people are just looking for a quick gift," said Aj Cleveland of Birmingham-Jefferson County Animal Control.

This time of year, Cleveland says she turns down more adoption requests than she fills, because people often don't put enough thought into getting a pet.

An animal moved from one environment to another needs time to adjust.

"When they get shuffled around, they lose that desire to have human contact," said Jack Bains of Basset Rescue of Alabama, based in Homewood. "I'm not saying you have to work with Dr. Phil to get them over it, but it does take some extra time."

The law is tough on people in relation to pets. Those who abandon their animals can be charged with felony animal cruelty, abandonment or neglect, with up to $5,000 in fines and jail time.

However, if you receive an unwanted pet, you can surrender it safely. A number of breed-specific rescue groups and shelters in Jefferson and Shelby counties will accept animals for free or for a small charge. Some animal control offices charge to take in an animal, but because of volume, can't promise the animal won't be put down if it isn't quickly adopted.

"A lot of times, people don't understand the magnitude of what they are giving," said Robert Davis, animal control officer and cruelty investigator for the Hoover Police Department. "People like them because they are cute and fluffy, but they neglect to remember that everything small grows up."

Reference: www.al.com

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