Shedding Light on Holiday Animal Adoptions

Admit it. You like it when your pets wear clothes. The sweater may keep Chuy warm on the two days a year it gets cold here in Dallas, but the tutu on Fifi is just plain fun. You don’t even care if it embarrasses them because it just makes you smile. That’s the kind of fun that could win you $50 cash. Learn more here.

If you don’t have a pet, this is a great time think about adopting one from a local shelter. Adopting pets gives them a second chance at life. Rescue shelters can also help pair you or your family with a pet that’s right for your lifestyle. A pet that needs lots of attention or companionship may not do well in a home where nobody is home 10 to 12 hours a day. A pet easily frightened by a lot of noise and activity may not be the best choice for a home with one or more children. Shelters know the right questions to ask before you adopt a pet. Most shelters are non-profit facilities dedicated to the humane treatment of animals. Adopting a pet from a shelter is much more affordable than going to a breeder and helps support the care of the animals still waiting to be adopted.

Do pets make great Christmas presents? Absolutely they do when the right pet is paired with the right family. That is more difficult to do when the entire family is not present to choose a pet. The best approach to take is to get a gift certificate for a pet that your child or family can bring to the shelter with them when they pick out a pet. Yes, it’s probably exciting for a puppy or kitten to jump out of a box on Christmas morning. However, if the pet doesn’t bond with your family, you may be creating more problems than you are solving by adopting a pet from a shelter in the first place.

For more information on adopting a pet this holiday season or any other time of the year, check out the wealth of information available at the American Humane Association website. We wish all of our members and their pets a Happy Paw-i-days!