• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Dog's Best Life

Dog's Best Life

The information you need to keep your dog happy, healthy, playful and loyal.

  • Top Stories
  • Blog
  • What We Do
  • About Us
  • Contact Us

Give a dog a home for the holiday – just don’t give a dog

Posted December 5, 2017

By Tiana Nelson

christmas

It’s the holidays! And, honestly, who can resist the idea of a cute puppy in a little red ribbon?

Let me make one request, don’t make the dog “surprise” a surprise. It may seem like you’re taking some of the fun away, but trust me it will have a much happier ending if you include the future owner in the search!

There are so many animals behind cages at shelters waiting to rescued, and you can have the pick of so many wonderful new additions to the family. Still, just as people’s interests are very diverse, don’t pretend that you can pick the perfect animal for someone in your life, regardless of how well you know them.

Future owner interests

You never know what is most important to a future owner – should the dog be calm or playful, big or small, young or old, do they want to save one that has struggled to get adopted in the past? Most importantly, how will they (and anyone else in their life) interact with the animal? Even if you ask the right questions, you won’t find out how they feel about the animal until “game day.”

Some shelters won’t allow pets to be adopted and given as gifts, and for good reason, it’s almost inevitable that the animal will come back to a shelter. If the person keeping the animal and caring for them day in and day out, isn’t the person deciding on the animal, dozens of things can go wrong.

Perhaps the person thought a dog would be great, but didn’t really think about how it might impact their travel schedule, or they figured it would be easier to have their cat get along with a dog, but it isn’t happening. Regardless of the reason they might not be the right fit for that household, it’s pretty common that pets given as gifts aren’t the perfect fit for the person receiving the gift.

Give the chance to adopt

So rather than put the person you love through having to live with a pet that isn’t a good fit for their family, or even worse having to make the decision to bring the pet to a shelter – just invite them into the rewarding experience of adopting a shelter pet.

Tell them you’ll cover the costs and then enjoy a little time searching for their perfect fit with them.

You know that feeling you get when you know you’ve found the “it” gift for someone – something they will love beyond measure and you found it for them? Well, this will feel even better!

Enjoy and happy rescuing!

Tiana Nelson is the president and COO of PawsCo a 501(c)3 animal welfare organization based in Denver, Colorado.

Save

Related Posts

  • dog Christmas danger
    Christmas trees pose dangers for puppies

    Puppy Christmas decorating dangers include trees, poinsettias, wreaths and more.…

  • christmas
    True dog lovers don't buy puppies as Christmas gifts

    Don't buy puppies: Introducing a new, young pup on Christmas…

Share this post:

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Pinterest Share on Email Share on Reddit

Filed Under: Adoption, Holidays, Home Page, Puppies Tagged With: Dog gifts, Petfinder.com

« Previous Post
Next Post »

Primary Sidebar

Follow Us

Categories

  • Adoption
  • Dog Breeds
  • Dog Facts
  • Dog Fun
  • Dog Grooming
  • Dog Health
  • Dog Inspirations
  • Dog Training
  • Dog Travel
  • Holidays
  • Home Page
  • Puppies
  • Top Stories

Featured Posts

  • Tricolor Australian shepherd in front of white background. Take steps to stop dog pawing.

    Canine body language: What’s your dog saying with his paws?

  • The most common warning signs to watch for in your puppy's behaviors include snarling, growling, mounting, snapping, nipping, lip curling, lunging, dominance, challenging stance, dead-eye stare, aggressive barking, possessiveness, and of course, biting!

    Take action immediately when you spot aggressive puppy warning signs

  • Cute corgi puppy wrapped in a blanket. Talk with your vet about starting your dog on medication to protect him from parasites including flea and tick prevention, as well as heartworm prevention.

    Puppy training 101: 10 tips to prepare your dog for success

Tags

Health conditions Big dogs Old dogs Babies Dog tail Camping Petfinder.com High-tech dog gadgets Emotional support dogs Dog cloning Non-shedding breeds Bulldog Driving Adopt a dog after a breakup Arthritis Dog poop Dog health insurance Vacation dog care Rottweiler Halloween Maltese Dog apps Labrador retriever Service dogs Chewing Dog manners Poodle Separation anxiety Bichon frisé Dog photos

Footer

Quick Links

  • Home
  • Top Stories
  • Blog
  • What We Do
  • About Us
  • Contact Us

Recent Posts

  • 5 reasons why maintaining your pet’s dental health is important
    Poor dental health can lead to tooth loss, heart disease, and other health problems. Provide proper dental care for your dog. […]
  • 7 famous dogs that shaped the course of history
    Read more to find out how seven famous dogs helped shape human history. Famous dogs include Peritas, Soter, Old Drum, and Pavlov's dog. […]
  • Discover 10 interesting facts about dog behavior
    Here are ten facts about dog behavior that may help you understand your pet more and wonder less about sometimes slightly peculiar habits. […]
  • 5 common dachshund health problems and how to treat them
    Dachshund health problems include hip and elbow dysplasia, invertebrate disc disease, obesity, allergies and asthma. […]

Get Our Newsletter

Get more news to help keep your dog healthy delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for DogsBestLife.com's monthly newsletter.

© Copyright 2022 Dog's Best Life online magazine · All Rights Reserved · Privacy
Get Our Free Monthly Newsletter

Get more news to help keep your dog healthy delivered right to your inbox. Sign up for DogsBestLife.com's monthly newsletter.