Reality vs. Fantasy

At this time of year, some of you may be thinking about giving a puppy or kitten as a Christmas present.  You picture the expression of sheer joy as your loved one discovers the furry ball of fur under the Christmas tree. You imagine the sweet puppy smell or kitten playfulness. 

That is a nice dream.  Unfortunately, the reality is not quite so cuddly.  Puppies will chew the new pair of socks Aunt Clara bought you.  Kittens will climb the new curtains you bought for the living room – or worse, decide the top of the Christmas tree looks like an excellent location from which to survey his/her new living quarters.

Now is not the best time to bring a pet into a home.  With all the hustle and bustle of the holidays, it is really hard to devote enough attention to your new pet.  Experienced pet owners know how much work a new pet is, regardless of the age. 

I am a firm believer that you should never give a pet as a gift unless the person is 100 percent involved in the decision.  If that is the case, I have a suggestion.  Give your loved one a handmade gift certificate.  Offer to pay the adoption fee for the pet whenever the recipient is ready.  You can tuck the gift certificate inside a basket of toys and other goodies for the new pet. 

Also, if you know the person is a pet lover but not ready to add another pet, consider giving a donation to his or her favorite rescue group.  That is something we have on our Christmas list this year.  We have enough junk around the house.   The dogs and cats at Brother Wolf could use the funds much than we can. 

We hope you and your family (furry and human) have a safe and happy holiday season and a healthy, happy new year.

Rescue Mommy

Honesty is the Best Policy

On Saturday, we visited a couple of rescue groups. Even though Gracie may not want another buddy, exposing her to other dogs is always a good thing. It occurred to me while I was speaking with one of the representatives how important absolute honesty is to the process.

If you are thinking about getting a new pet or adding another one to your family, you have a lot of things to consider. Here are a few things we always consider:

1. What is your lifestyle? If you are a couch potato, do not adopt a high energy dog. If you are the active type, you have plenty of like-minded breeds to consider.

2. How much time can you devote to your new pet? Dogs require walks outside to do their business, whereas cats can use a litter box. They want to hang out with you and play with toys; in my opinion, they want more interaction than most cats. A cat will approach you when he or she wants attention.

Tip if you are considering a dog: Set your alarm 30 minutes early and go for a walk each morning. Come straight home work and take a 30-minute walk. Do this for two weeks. If you can keep up the schedule, congratulations; you have had a taste of life with a dog. If it is too much, think carefully. Maybe you either need a dog with less exercise requirements or might not quite be ready for a dog.

3. How much experience do you have with dogs? Certain dogs are easier to train than others. For example, Jack Russell terriers can be a bit challenging. They have so much energy and intelligence. You have to be extra patient sometimes.

4. Are you interested in the breed because of a book/movie/tv show? Are you more in love with what you see than the reality? Since we are being honest, I got a Dalmatian because I loved the looks and cute Disney characters; hey, I was young and an inexperienced dog companion.

I had no idea how high energy Dalmatians were. I had read they were active. They have not invented the proper adjective to describe how hyperactive they are. Perdy and I learned together, though. She finally calmed to normal dog speed when she was 10 and was still running two weeks prior to her death.

5. Are you financially able to care for your pet? You can do a little homework by calling a vet’s office. They can give you a rough idea of average costs for checkups and flea and heartworm medicines. Visit your local pet supply store for an idea about food costs. And, don’t forget to check with your landlord (if applicable). You may not be able to have a pet. If you can, an extra deposit may be required.

6. Do you have other pets in the household? Kids? You must consider everyone who lives with you. Imagine how you would feel if a strange person suddenly moved in with you. Lots of pets are surrendered to shelters because they were not compatible with everyone in the home.

I could go on and on. I think you get the idea, though. Pets require a huge investment of time and money. You will also give away a little piece of your heart and get so much more in return!

Rescue Mommy