Gifting a puppy for the holidays? Please grab a coffee and have a read.

When I was 10, Santa brought me and my younger siblings the BEST gift ever: an adorable puppy! We named her No?l the Christmas Puppy. She was a soft, tan German Shepherd mix with floppy ears that had yet to stand on their own. We instantly loved her but love, as you know, can be fleeting.

As kids, we were never schooled on how to care for a puppy. Our parents were unaware of crate training so No?l had free rein of the house, peeing and pooping anywhere she pleased. Our mother's solution was two-fold:

1) Put No?l out into the backyard for hours on end to 'learn' where to do her business.

2) Tie No?l out on the front porch to prevent her from destroying the house with her obsessive chewing.

Needless to say neither 'solution' worked. The backyard was now filled with holes dug by curious and energetic puppy paws, and the all-wood front porch proved to the ultimate chew toy for a teething pup.

I remember coming home from school a few weeks later and No?l was gone. I thought she had been stolen and insisted my mother call the police. She informed me that No?l had gone to live with a man in the next town over and she would be trained to become a police dog. This story was full of holes and most likely 100% fabricated as, sadly, it was not the first time my mother had given away a new pet mere weeks after arriving home. But that's a story for another day (and for my therapist).

Fast-forward to 1998. I was volunteering on the weekends with the Anti-Cruelty Society in Chicago. My job was to bathe, walk, and play with adoptable pups to get them ready to meet prospective forever families, and I loved it. The Saturday after Christmas I was strolling across the parking lot, excited to get to work, when I came across a young woman about 17 years old standing next to a car, crying uncontrollably. In her arms was an eight-week-old Cavalier King Charles Spaniel puppy. I asked if she was OK and she let me know her boyfriend had got her the puppy for Christmas but her parents wouldn't let her keep it. She was beside herself so I walked her into the Anti-Cruelty building and to the desk where people surrender their pets. Heartbreaking can't begin to describe the situation, which was compounded by the fact that this was not the only surrendered puppy that day or weekend.

In the weeks following Christmas, shelters and rescue organizations with brick & mortar locations see a huge spike in surrendered animals, most of whom had been given as gifts with the best of intentions. These organizations strongly advise against pets as gifts during the holidays, but the advice still falls on deft ears.

If you're thinking a puppy (or kitten or bunny or guinea pig) would be the perfect gift for your children or significant other to 'open' on Christmas morning, please consider the following.

• For a significant other, have you researched if his/her/their home allows pets?
• If the answer is yes, does your significant other have the upfront funds to properly welcome their new pet home? Most pet-tolerant or pet-friendly apartment communities require residents to register their pets. They also charge their residents a refundable pet security deposit or non-refundable pet fee upwards of $500, plus monthly pet rent in the range of $10-50 per pet. Add this to vet visits for necessary vaccinations, food & treats, a crate, bedding, training, etc. and you've just handed your special someone a bill of $800 - $1,500 along with that furry little nugget.
• For your kids, have you researched the breed to ensure it will fit into your family's lifestyle? Smart, active dog breeds like Siberian Huskies need tons of exercise and mental stimulation to keep destructive habits at bay.
• Is the giftee aware of their new responsibilities...feeding, walking, potty training, cleaning litter boxes or cages? It's essential for people of all ages to have a crash-course in responsible pet ownership if they want the experience to be positive and rewarding. The good news is many SPCAs and rescue organizations offer online resources and in-person classes focused on being the best pet family you can be.
• Do you, your family and/or significant other understand that a puppy or kitten is a commitment for the next 10-12 years? This is a hard one. Conceptually, yes, many of us would actor the anticipated life span of a dog or cat into this important decision-making process. But in practice, there is no way to predict the future. Someone is allergic. Jobs are lost. Moves take place. Kids lose interest or get overwhelmed.

Having a puppy is an amazing, life-altering experience no matter what your age. The more prep work you and your loved ones can do in advance of welcoming home a furry baby, the better.

Happy holidays!

#petparents #doglovers #petownership #dogcare #holidaygifts