The puppy under the tree

This week, I got the opportunity to spend nearly a full day at the shelter, answering the phone and helping the public.

During this one day, I answered at least five requests about taking in animals. Most of them “were no longer able to care for” the animal. Unfortunately, the shelter is almost at 100% capacity and generally has a waiting list of animals.

According to the shelter managers, these requests had happened the entire week.

This made me begin to wonder why the sudden uptick in animal intake requests?

I know it is getting cold, utility bills are rising and people can get into a bind, and it also made me worry. Are there people surrendering their current pets so they can get a new one for Christmas?

I am writing this with my cat of seven years, Tater-Tot, sitting in my lap and the thought of giving him up has never crossed my mind. I currently have a teenage foster cat named Leo (see our website and please apply to adopt him) and when fostering, you know that you will have to give that animal up eventually so you can continue to help more animals, but that can still be an emotional thought.

Unfortunately though, some people do not feel the same connection to their pets.

That is why I want to remind everyone that pets are not simply Christmas gifts, they are a lifetime commitment. Both cats and dogs can live between 10 and 20 years or more, depending on a number of factors. The cute kitten or puppy will grow up, they will go through different phases in their lives, similar to humans. They will grow to be “teenagers” and be very mischievous, they will finally become adults and then they will become seniors who may require extra care. Throughout their entire life, they will have more costs associated with them than just food. They will need to be spayed or neutered, receive regular vaccinations and they may get sick or injured.

So while I cannot stop you from getting a pet as a Christmas gift this year and then disposing of it before next Christmas so that you can get another, just ask yourself before you do it, “Is this the type of human that I want to be?”

Remember, pets do get attached to their humans and surroundings. When they are dumped, typically they go through an array of emotions such as fear, stress and depression. Many times when a dog is dumped in the country, they will sit, sometimes for days, in the place where you left them waiting for your return without food or shelter.

So please, before you get that puppy or kitten as a Christmas gift, just consider if you are ready for a 10-20 year commitment? If you are not sure that you can make that commitment, go buy a stuffed animal instead or better yet, make a donation to your local animal shelter or animal care organization.

In my traditional closing, I found this quote by Jane Goodall: “You cannot share your life with a dog or a cat and not know perfectly well that animals have personalities and minds and feelings.”

Kegan is the president of the Greene County Humane Society Board of Directors.