Luckily, it is not normal, but there are still families that decide to give a puppy to the little ones in the family, forgetting that it is a living being, that it involves a huge responsibility and that there are dogs and cats that, without being puppies nor precious, they equally need a home to be happy. Fortunately, it is a gift that is losing followers. However, whenever these dates arrive, you have to remember why not give pets.
Be careful, an animal is not a toy
And it is that more than 300,000 dogs and cats were abandoned just last year, according to the annual report presented by the Affinity Foundation that collects the data for 2019. Very worrying figures, despite the fact that we are more aware of what it means to have a pet at home. Because they explain that many parents continue to surprise their children with pets on these dates without realizing that it is just another whim and that, as soon as the moment of euphoria passes, when the novelty gives way to the routine that this responsibility entails, the Children lose interest in the animal and if the parents do not feel any, the result will be dramatic.
What does a pet at home mean
That is why it is necessary to remember that, in addition to being a living being, a dog and a cat is an animal that, like a child, implies a significant financial outlay, not only in food; also in beds, toys, veterinarian, vehicles so that it can travel, security measures during the trip and the walk, etc. To this we must add the time they need. Because just as children ask for games when they are little and you have to go down to the park to play, a dog or a cat also requires our time to take it out for a walk (not only for you to relieve yourself outside, in the case of dogs , but to socialize and spend energy), ask for pampering, games, hygiene measures (brushing, cleaning the sand, bathing, etc.).
And if we add the consequences of having an animal at home to that equation, the result may not be as expected. Because many people think that dogs or cats do not cause damage in the home, they do not get bad, they do not urinate at home … But no. They leak pee or poop, they cry if they are afraid, they can feel separation anxiety when they are left alone, they get bored, they get sad, they can break things … Therefore, having a pet means accepting all that and assume it as part of life. And that is why, if the animal is a gift resulting from a moment of desire, when reality arrives, the risk of abandonment is greater.
So if you are thinking of giving an animal this Christmas, think about it. And if you accept everything with commitment and responsibility, then go ahead!
