Thursday, December 04, 2014
 
sponsored by

Home for the Holidays:
The Christmas Curmudgeon and pets
By The Christmas Curmudgeon, aka Derek Hurley

Send a link to a friend  Share


[
December 04, 2014]  When shopping for children one would think that gift-giving may be a little easier. After all, the tradition starts with kids.

For some families buying toys for their children at the holidays seems simple enough. Buy them some toys, throw in a few pieces of clothing for good measure, despite the likely cries of “Why did Santa bring me socks?” - Wrap them up, and behold - the children are ready for Christmas and vice-versa.

For others, toys are not enough. There are parents who feel that a toy or game is too easy and too obvious of a choice.

Admit it, some of you are thinking, “What if I get my kid a pet for Christmas? Surely every kid wants a pet, and it will be a great addition to the family!”

This may create a lovely image at first, but you may not want to break out the kennel or cage quite yet.
 


Cost

For the gift-giver at Christmas, cost is usually kept in the back of the mind. While a toy or a piece of children’s clothing usually falls on the cheaper side, a pet could give the whole family more bang for their buck. After all, a toy can break two minutes after it is unwrapped, but a pet can last for years.

Initial cost is usually the first number that comes to mind. For example, at the Logan County Humane Society, a dog can be adopted for $97 and a cat for $50. However, a pet cannot be expected to survive off of table scraps for a routine schedule of chow. A pet can be just as picky as their youthful masters when it comes to food.

According to Wanda Stevens of the Logan County Humane Society, “[parents] have to have the finances to properly care for the pet, such as shots, spay/neuter, heartworm preventative, flea preventative, and whatever else comes along.”

Combine these costs and then multiply that by at least ten years, and those costs will climb. Keep in mind that Rover or Kitty may knock over the living room as they learn to “play” in their environment. Suddenly that eight-dollar action figure sounds like a better idea.



Are you prepared?

It is common to hear at Christmas, “if you don’t like it or it doesn’t fit, we can always take it back.” This is not the same attitude one should have when picking out a pet. Sure, you could take a pet back to the pet store or the shelter; but pets, like any other family member, will form attachments.

In addition, dogs and cats tend to live for at least ten or twelve years, and other pets, birds for instance, can live even longer. This may sound like another charming series of memories. Buying a puppy or kitten for a toddler and watching them grow up together sounds like something from the Family Channel. But that may not be the best idea.

Young children are not the best at taking care of pets for obvious reasons. For several years after they are born, kids cannot take care of themselves, let alone other living beings.


According to Stevens, “the parents [should] realize they will be the people caring for the pet even if the child says he will be responsible.” Kids need education and understanding on pet care, such as proper feeding, or when to give them exercise, or take them to the vet. Unfortunately, that takes time to sink in, meaning parents will likely have to take care of the pet initially.

[to top of second column]

Caged pets come with an extra caveat in the form of an extra chore every week; cleaning their cage, or in the case of some, tank. Parents today have a hard enough time keeping up with home chores and getting kids to clean their own rooms, let alone anyone else’s.

On a related note, kids are known to want something just to say they want it, play with it twice, and quickly move on to something else. A dog or cat will not stay ignored like the other toys on the shelf, and a caged pet still needs some kind of stimulation to be healthy, even fish are known to respond to stimuli of human interactions.

Furthermore, some children are not so gentle with their belongings, and a pet will not always respond well to that. It is unfortunate that in these moments, the dog or cat is sometimes blamed instead. One would think that a small child pulling on their ears would make anyone upset.

“Small children and pets do not always make a good fit. Parents get upset when a dog or cat scratches or nips a small child, but often times the pet is telling the child to leave him alone. Toddlers are notorious for pulling, tugging, and generally bothering dogs. Some will take the ‘abuse’ and others will not,” says Stevens.

Should it be a surprise?

A surprise gift at Christmas can lead to two reactions. The recipient will sit in shock or make that crooked kind-of-half smile and say “Thank you” with an upward inflection.
 


The latter is definitely not an appropriate reaction to having a new four-legged member of the family. This is especially true if the child has never said anything about wanting a pet or if they have interacted with an animal before. While adults may think a puppy licking their face is cute, a child may have no idea how to react.

“I firmly believe that a child should be part of the choosing process; especially if the pet is to be the child's,” says Stevens.

A pet for Christmas may sound like a good idea, and for many families it certainly can work itself out in the long run. But do yourself a favor and be sure everyone is ready before hand.

Now, has anyone seen the cat? He’s probably stuck in the Christmas tree again.

Read all the articles in our New
Home for the Holidays Magazine

Title
CLICK ON TITLES TO GO TO PAGES
Page
Reaching out to the community in thanksgiving 4
A soldier's holidays remembered 8
Thanksgiving fun facts 12
The history of the Nativity 16
The Christmas Curmudgeon and pets 21
Shop Local
Just a few of the fine wares you can find in downtown Lincoln
25
Our favorite Holiday cookies (and a couple of cakes) 31
Take up an old tradition of start a new one with the New Year 44
Holiday greetings and wishes for the year 2015 from community leaders 47
Conclusion:
A Soldier's holiday remembered
54
Video Peace on Earth 56

< Top Stories index

Back to top