Think before giving pets as gifts
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Pet of the Week: Mia
With Christmas coming soon, the Elmore County Humane Society reminds everyone to take careful consideration before getting someone a pet as a gift.
While it can be a good time to adopt a new pet because of many people having extended time off work and having time to integrate a new pet into the home, it can also be an especially busy time with shopping, church activities, parties, and more, possibly even too busy of a time of year to bring in a new pet.
While shelters generally enjoy helping families find their new pet, it is also important to remember that a pet is a serious commitment in money, time, training, patience, and love. Many dogs and cats live well into their teens, which mean they also may have medical needs during their lives and look to their people for all of their needs.
As such, adding a pet to the family should only be done after much consideration and planning for the short term, as well as the long term. Researching various breeds can also help families know what to expect and for what to be prepared.
Most shelters also discourage giving pets as gifts to non-family members as getting a pet is considered a very big and special thing, and not everyone looks for the same things in pets. For family members who you know would like a pet, giving an adoption gift certificate is a wonderful gift idea so that the recipient can choose and adopt their new pet themselves.
To make a well-rounded gift, the giver could also get a stuffed toy dog or cat, appropriate pet toys, food bowls, treats, and more and put those items in a big basket with the adoption gift certificate to make a pet-related gift basket.
The featured Pet of the Week for Elmore County Humane Society is Mia, an 8-month-old female hound-looking mix who weighs about 40 pounds. She came to the shelter as a stray and was never reclaimed. The shelter describes her as incredibly sweet, great with other dogs, very playful, and just a very happy girl.
If you are interested in meeting Mia or any other adoptable pets there, the first step is to fill out the adoption application. Once approved the shelter will coordinate with you to set up an appointment to meet and potentially adopt.
The adoption application is available on the shelter’s website at www.elmorehumane.org. For more information, call the shelter at 334-567-3377. The shelter is located at 255 Central Plank Road, Wetumpka.