Imagine running down the stairs on Christmas morning to find a puppy or kitten under the tree — it’s enough to make anyone giddy with excitement! While giving pets as gifts requires some extra thought and consideration, it can make the holiday season one that the recipient will never forget! Just ask Tricia Freeman, a mom of three from Charlotte, Virginia.
“My daughter started asking Santa for a puppy,” she explains. “We were ready for a family pet, so my husband and I talked it over and, after much planning, decided to do it. We looked for a puppy, ready to come home by Christmas.”
After a wild night of trying to hide a puppy, the day of the surprise reveal — Christmas morning! — was upon them. “I came down early and after making sure [the puppy] was fed and toileted, put him in a crate with a big bow,” explains Freeman. “[The kids] were completely surprised, and everyone fell in love right away. We left a note from Santa with the dog’s name on it — Deacon. It was the most amazing Christmas surprise ever.”
While there are few gifts as special as a new pet, it’s important to remember that adding a new member to your family is a big commitment. Freeman and her husband didn’t make the decision lightly. Beyond planning out the perfect surprise, the couple spent time determining how the long haul of pet ownership would be handled.
Before gifting a pet for the holidays or any other time of year, here are six steps you should take first:
1. Consider the long-term care required
Pets need a lot of love and care to live happy, healthy lives. As such, it’s important that you don’t gift a pet to someone who isn’t ready or able to take care of one for the long term. In some cases, this might mean skipping the surprise aspect. For more information on gifting a pet, read the ASPCA’s Position Statement on Pets as Gifts.
2. Get your home pet-ready
If you’re gifting your kids or partner a new pet, it’s important that you kitty- or puppy-proof your home prior to the day of the reveal. This is an important step to ensure your new pet’s safety. Make sure things like electrical cords and outlets are covered and that your houseplants are not poisonous to cats or dogs.
3. Choose the pet wisely
Always match the pet to the person receiving it, the type of environment in which the pet lives and the time the new owner has to care for the animal. Make sure to consider:
- Every person in the home. If there are children around, take the animal’s temperament into account and choose a kid-friendly breed.
- The size of the living space. That adorable little puppy may someday morph into a 160-pound dog, which won’t be suited to a small apartment if they owner can’t walk them daily or afford to hire a dog walker.
- Time and attention. If you know it will be a struggle to get your kids to walk a dog, it might be a better idea to get them a cat. Otherwise, you might be doing all the pet care.
And don’t forget to get the pet spayed or neutered, immunized and checked out by a veterinarian before you bring them home.
4. Have pet supplies on hand
Just like babies, dogs and cats need lots of stuff. Food, cleaning supplies and other items, like kitty litter, collars and toys, should be part of the gift. Your new friend can’t wear that bow forever! Check out these kitten care tips or puppy care tips to make sure you haven’t forgotten anything.
5. Set the stage
Change, even good change, can be stressful for animals. Since holidays tend to be particularly chaotic, it’s important that you go the extra mile to make sure that the pet is kept calm. You may also need some extra hands on deck to make the surprise happen seamlessly.
6. Prepare for the big surprise
If you decide to “box” the pet, it’s crucial that you provide them with plenty of air holes. Of course, you shouldn’t keep them in there too long! You might also want to consider having the animal wait with a chaperone in an enclosed outdoor space, like your backyard. Either way, make sure that you film the big moment so that you can remember it for years to come
