Santa Shouldn't Bring Pets

It happens every time this year; Hollywood puts out movies that feature cute and cuddly animals. Children soon beg their parents for a pet dog, cat, or bird, and under the relentless pressuring of their children, the parents give in. They shouldn't. Santa should stick to delivering dolls, trucks, and trains. If Santa insists on bringing a pet, then a stuffed one or a book on a helpful topic would be a better choice.

Why shouldn't people receive pets for the holidays?

Although children more often than not ask for pets for the holidays, adults also receive them as gifts. No one should receive a pet for the holidays. Why? First of all, any pet, especially a bird, is a lifetime commitment. Even a parakeet in a store window can live for 8-12 years, and a responsible bird owner will want to make sure he or she can provide an appropriate lifestyle for the pet. Dogs require daily walking. Birds require daily interaction. Cats require daily love and attention (even if they don't seem to want it.) Most holiday gifts are opened, played with for a few days, weeks, or (shudder) hours, and then left by the wayside. This cannot happen with a pet.

Pets require care and feeding. If the receiver of the gift doesn't care for it, then who will? Mom and dad may be busy with their own lives and caring for the children. Another household member may also step in, but these "substitute" caregivers may resent the person receiving the pet for not caring for it and may not provide the same level of care that someone who loves the animal.

Last, think of all the animals that are in shelters. Many pets in animal shelters today began their lives as gifts. Holidays, birthdays, anniversaries--the event passed, but the animal remained. No one wants to see one's pet go to an animal shelter.

But my child (my spouse, my sister, fill in the blank) really wants a bird (cat, dog, etc.).

Great. I would recommend a stuffed animal. For birds, there are small replicas of just about every species sold as a "buddy" for our caged animals. One of these replicas (or a statue, etc.)will not fill the place of a live animal, but it will better tolerate lapses in care. After the original Disney movie 101 Dalmatians came out, my grandmother purchased a ceramic Dalmatian for me. I still have this little dog, and it means so much more to me than if she had bought me an

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