ResearchShould You Give a Pet as a Gift?
Nothing tops out the cute-meter like a puppy poking it's head out of a Christmas stocking or a kitten bounding over the presents under the Christmas tree. To just that right person, a pet for Christmas is the most wonderful gift you can give. But before you go for this tempting picture-perfect moment, there's a lot to think about.
A pet comes with a lot of responsibility. Children especially are a recipient of a pet, but not all of them are up to taking proper care of one - and not all parents were looking forward to teaching their child pet care and a decade or so of nagging them to walk it, clean up after it, and etc. Whoever you're giving the pet to, be sure that all parties involved were receptive to having a pet in the house.
Allergies can be an unpleasant surprise. People can be allergic to pet dander and hair or feathers, even on very small pets. Also, there's no genetic markers for allergies - that is to say, just because the parents aren't allergic doesn't mean their children aren't. Some people never know they had an allergy until they encounter the trigger in close quarters.
Other pets in the household need to be taken into consideration. While it's a safer bet that a household which has pets already will appreciate another pet, remember that the other pets in that household might show some problems adapting to the new member of the household. One need only use their imagination to see how giving a canary to a cat-owning household might cause problems. Even if there isn't such a situation, pets of the same species tend to be jealous of each other - particularly if one is a new-comer and the other is used to being the sole recipient of it's owner's attention.
Be sure to check if the recipient lives where pets are allowed, if they rent.
As far as the pet itself is concerned, you should be careful to only get a pet in good health. Cats and dogs, for instance, naturally breed in the Spring and Summer and are out of season by the time Christmas rolls around. So young puppies and kittens you find for sale around Christmas time are usually the product of a "breeding mill" as it's called in the trade. These mills are famous for being low-quality environments which tend to produce ill and anti-social livestock. Be sure the pet you're buying is from a reputable source with good recommendations.
It's common sense that you should not give a pet until it's had it's shots, is certified free of parasites, and is ready to leave it's nursing mother. Some pet stores in addition offer a discount certificate good for future vet checkups and spaying or neutering, so you'll want to pass this and other care package items along.
Speaking of care packages, you might want to make an additional gift of pet care items along with the pet: food bowls, litter boxes, leashes, and so on.
You might also want to look into a lower-maintenance pet. Certainly a hamster or goldfish will be less trouble to look after than a St. Bernard, for instance. And don't overlook reptiles such as iguanas or snakes - although you definitely have to be sure that the recipient likes them! If you get too exotic in your choices, check first for the local laws in the state where the recipient lives - some pets such as ferrets are outlawed in many states.