The Stupidest Christmas Gift You Could Give: A Live Animal

petsChristmas

Dec 12

Foster kittens May 2023 - Photo Credit Kelly Allard

The image is undeniably charming: a ribbon around a puppy’s neck, a kitten peeking out of a stocking, a child’s face lit with sheer joy on Christmas morning. It’s a holiday card cliché, but in reality, giving a pet as a Christmas gift is one of the most misguided and potentially harmful traditions—for the animal, the recipient, and the giver.

Here’s why wrapping up a living creature is a very, very, very bad idea.

1. An Animal is Not a Surprise. It’s a 10-20 Year Commitment.
A pet is not a toy, a sweater, or a gadget. It is a living, breathing being with complex needs for food, shelter, veterinary care, training, exercise, and—above all—consistent, daily love and attention. Surprising someone with this lifelong responsibility assumes they are ready, willing, and able to meet it. This decision must be made deliberately by the person who will be ultimately responsible.

2. The Holiday Chaos is a Nightmare for a New Pet.
Christmas is the worst possible time to introduce a vulnerable animal to a new home. The environment is overwhelming: loud noises, strange people, hectic travel, wrapping paper, rich foods, and toxic plants (like poinsettias and lilies). This stressful period prevents the crucial, quiet bonding time a new pet needs and increases the risk of the animal getting injured, sick, lost, or simply terrified.

3. It Often Leads to Post-Holiday Abandonment.
This is the cruelest consequence. Once the glitter of the holidays fades and the reality of chewed shoes, vet bills, potty training, and 6 a.m. walks sets in, the “gift” loses its luster. Animal shelters consistently report a devastating influx of surrendered pets every January and February, dubbed the “post-holiday dump.” These animals, confused and heartbroken, pay the ultimate price for an impulsive human decision.

4. It Undermines the Human-Animal Bond.
Choosing your own pet is a profound and personal journey. It involves research, meeting animals, and feeling that unique connection. Imposing a specific breed, age, or personality on someone robs them of this essential process. The right pet for a household is a deeply individual choice based on lifestyle, activity level, and experience. For instance, an older, calmer shelter dog or cat is often a far better fit for many families than the intense, round-the-clock demands of a puppy or a highly energetic kitten.

5. The "Free" Pet Myth is a Financial Trap.
A "free" kitten or puppy is anything but. The initial acquisition cost is negligible compared to the lifetime of expenses: vaccinations, spaying/neutering, preventative medications, food, grooming, and unexpected veterinary emergencies. An unaltered animal can quickly lead to costly unintended litters, perpetuating the cycle of overpopulation. The commitment is financial as much as it is emotional.

A Better, More Compassionate Alternative:

If you believe someone is truly ready for a pet, give the gift of the process, not the animal itself.

Create a "Pet Adoption Kit": Wrap a gift certificate to cover adoption fees from a local shelter, a leash, a food bowl, a book on pet care, and a stuffed animal.
Offer a "Foster Test Drive": Connect them with a local rescue about short-term fostering. This provides invaluable, hands-on experience without long-term obligation, helps socialize a shelter animal, and is one of the most responsible ways to "test the waters."
Make a Plan Together: Offer to take them to visit shelters after the holidays, in a calm and focused setting. Frame it as, "I think you're ready for this amazing step, and I want to support you in doing it right."
Sponsor a Shelter Animal: In their name, sponsor the care of a rescue animal. This supports a life-saving cause they love without placing a live animal in an unprepared home.

The Bottom Line:
The impulse to create a magical Christmas moment is understandable. But true love for both the recipient and the animal means prioritizing their long-term well-being over a fleeting moment of surprise. A pet should be a chosen family member, not an unwrapped present. This holiday season, let’s break this harmful cycle and give the gift of thoughtful, responsible planning instead. The lives of countless animals depend on it.

Adopt a Shelter Pet

“Purebred” animals often have genetic issues - German Shepherds are famous for having hip dysplasia, pugs and other flat-faced dogs have breathing problems, small-eared dogs get tons of ear infections. Many cat breeds also have genetic issues. You might see ads for “designer” breeds where they are the result of mixed breedings. These are the result of irresponsible pet owners who allowed their animals to breed and found themselves with unwanted babies. Some call themselves “breeders” but they are usually disreputable.

You are far better off getting an animal from a shelter - they’re spayed/ neutered, been vet-checked, treated for parasites, have all their shots and are often microchipped. The price may seem like a lot up front when you have the option of a “free to a good home” pet but when you add it all up, you are saving a lot of money. Just the spay/neuter is worth it as the female cats yowl when in heat, often around 3am. The male cats spray; the pungent scent is hard to eradicate. Spayed/neutered dogs are far less aggressive. Bonus - the yearly license is cheaper for altered pets.