Pets & Family

Adopt a Pet During the Holidays? The Pros and Cons

By Michelson Found Animals

Picture it: A floppy puppy crawls out of a beautifully gift-wrapped box or a tiny kitten peeks out of a bright red stocking. The thought has crossed many people’s minds. Maybe you’re thinking of adding a four-legged friend to your family and the holidays are coming up. But is this a good idea? The issue of whether or not you should adopt a pet during the holidays is a subject of controversy in the animal welfare community. Here are the facts!

Pros

What child hasn’t begged for a puppy or kitten for the holidays? Here are four reasons to adopt a pet during the holiday season.

Getting a pet for the holidays is a dream come true!
With everyone on vacation from school and work, the family has extra time at home to get to know and train the new pet. This eases the transition of adoption.
Adopting a pet saves a life and makes more room at the shelter for an animal in need of a warm bed.
The ASPCA highly encourages folks to adopt during the holidays. They conducted research in 2013 supporting that there’s no harm in giving an animal has a gift. They found that adopting a pet during the holidays has no negative effect on emotional attachment and 86% of pets adopted during the holidays remain in the home.

Cons

On the other hand, it may not be wise to consider pet adoption in December. It’s a chaotic time of year, so you might be better off adopting after New Year’s. Here are three reasons to not adopt a pet during the holidays.

Some shelters believe that animals given as gifts are more likely to be returned.
Surprising a loved one with a pet means that the person hasn’t met the animal beforehand. What if it isn’t a good personality match?
Some people travel a lot during the holidays and may not have enough time to bond and train the pet. They might be better off adopting during a less hectic time of year when everyone in the family is home.

Tips for Adopting a Pet During the Holiday Season

Ultimately, whether or not you should adopt a pet during the holidays is a personal choice. We recommend taking into account your family, lifestyle and holiday plans. Here are some tips for adopting during the holidays to make the transition as smooth as possible!

Make sure that your holiday plans include plenty of time at home. You want to have ample time to get to know your pet and provide the necessary behavioral training.
Try to minimize foot traffic in and out of your home. The hustle and bustle of friends and family might be overwhelming for a new pet. Keep the animal’s surroundings as calm and peaceful as possible.
Instead of surprising a family member with a pet, you can give them a card saying you’re getting a new dog or cat. This way the whole family can go look for a new animal together. When you go to the shelter, all members of the family can visit with each pet and cast a vote over which animal they think is best.