Every year – especially at Christmas time – dogs, cats, rabbits and other small mammals are given away. This should not happen to sentient beings! Because all too often they are released after the holidays or passed on to animal shelters.
In a deeper sense, pets can be seen as gifts. They enrich our lives and bring us great joy. While living with a pet can be a gift, don’t give a dog, cat or guinea pig without thinking it through first.
This is especially true when the recipients are children who may not be aware of the responsibilities involved in caring for an animal. Although children feel an emotional connection to animals, they are typically unable to take full responsibility for their care and welfare. While many parents think a pet makes a great birthday or holiday gift, many children lose interest in the animal after a short time.
An animal is not an inanimate object – it is a living, sentient being with needs of its own that vary from species to species and breed to breed. New owners must make a long-term commitment to meeting these needs for the animal’s lifetime (up to 14 years for a dog and up to 20 years for a cat).