I’m guessing the answer to that question is a resounding NO!
Which makes me wonder why then, do so many people think it’s a good idea to give any pet as a gift? For example, Easter is coming up and I’ve already seen a lot of ads for bunnies and chicks for sale as Easter gifts. And believe it or not, puppies and kittens too.
Now I don’t know everything there is to take care of all these different kinds of critters, but I do know a bit of general information about puppies. So let's take a look at what caring for a puppy involves.
I think we can all agree...
First of all, I think we can all agree there are a lot of good reasons to adopt any puppy, bunny, chick, or kitten, right? Here're a few things I can say about a puppy:
- First of all, they’re so freeking cute and adorable and lovable!
- And you probably already know that dogs will love you unconditionally for as long as they live, making them one of the best companions you could ever have.
- Many breeds can provide excellent protection.
- Getting a dog for your kids will be a great opportunity for them to learn responsibility. And what a great bonus for a great birthday present!
- Then there are some people who get puppies as a “training” program for having kids.
- And I've had a number of people tell me that the grandkids would love for me to have one to play with when they visit, and since I'm semi-retired now, I’ll have plenty of time for one. Ha!
So who wouldn't agree? Great idea, right?
Yeah, no.
While I may agree...
While I may agree with all those statements wholeheartedly, I still wouldn’t appreciate someone giving me a pet as a gift. I have all kinds of reasons for that. And the reason I'm sharing my reasons with you is because I heard about an adoption event on the radio this past weekend where they were encouraging all their listeners to go to their local animal shelter and help them out by adopting a dog. Kid's birthdays were mentioned quite a few times along with companions for single-dog homes and then companions for people who live alone.
So, wow! Tens of thousands of dogs were adopted nationwide because of this annual event! It sounded wonderful!
But, hmm yeah, I wonder how many of these poor puppies will end up back in the same shelters in a few weeks because people didn't realize how much time, energy, and work they really are. That's what compelled me to write out this list.
Since I’ve had dogs, cats, and kids I’m going to make this list a little more interesting by throwing in a few comparisons between pet ownership and kid “ownership.” Hahaha! This should be interesting, right?
By the way, I wouldn’t advocate having kids based on this list. That’s a whole other discussion and a whole ‘nother book. (read:“You Can’t Love Your Children Too Much”) This is just for the sake of helping you to see things from another perspective.
1. Potty Training: The back yard may become your pet's forever toilet!
Yes, potty training seems to take forever for both toddlers and puppies. At least babies have a diaper to contain their "accidents." Anyone who's tried to potty train a puppy though, knows what it's like to get up in the middle of the night and step in a nice cold puddle of dog pee...or worse! If you've never experienced this before, why would you want to start now?
As far as the time it takes to potty train a puppy...I really can't remember how long it took. Probably the same amount of time it took me to get my kids trained...maybe a few weeks...well, when they were ready. What I do remember was stepping in a lot of puppy puddles and piles in the house for however long it took, which was way too long in my book.
And yeah, when you do get your puppy trained, that means he's trained to go outside...in your yard. How much fun does that sound like to have to go out and shovel dog poop every night when you get home from work? Especially if that's the same yard in which the kids play.
At least apartment dwellers can take their dogs for a walk so they can relieve themselves everywhere else. Of course, they still have to pick up and carry those prizes home with them. Sweet!
Either way, dogs will never clean up after themselves, poop or toys.
On the upside, kittens take about 10 seconds to learn to use a litter box. However, it might take you a few days to realize you have to clean that out every day or it gets really disgusting.
At least kids will eventually learn how to use the toilet by themselves and not have to wake you up to go outside. And, bonus, they'll even learn how to flush the toilet!
Ok, yes, a dog will clean their own hiney's so I'll give you that one.
2. Entertainment: You’re at your pet’s mercy.
Hahaha, this might be true with pets and kids! But know that regarding dogs, they are pack animals which means they are happier and healthier when they are running around and hanging around other dogs or at least one person. So unless you have a huge yard in which they can run and play all day you will have to schedule daily morning and afternoon walks as well as time to play fetch.
But wait, that’s not all. You must also have time to sit with Fido and cuddle and talk with him. Almost all pets love attention, just like kids. (There is no substitute for that. And they will love you back...so there’s a bonus.) Either way, most critters don’t like to be alone for very long.
"He’s going at it like a dog with a bone!"
Have you ever heard that phrase? You’ll learn what it means real quick the first time you leave your dog home alone - inside or outside - when you have to run to the store or, say, go to work every day.
Know this: Dogs like to dig! They are constantly looking for that elusive bone. So when you do have to leave them home alone be prepared for torn up furniture, sheets, carpet, chewed up shoes, and trash all over the house, not to mention the holes in any window screens or anything else they attempt to dig at.
If you leave them alone outside you might as well say goodbye to your grass, garden, trees, patio furniture, etc. Hey, they get bored and they need to find that damn bone!
At least kids will eventually get to the point where they can go out and make new friends and entertain themselves. And if you "train" your kids really well they could even potentially pitch in with the housework.
3. Protection: Some pets could save your life, or not.
While some dogs are smart enough to alert a neighbor (in the right environment) if you get hurt, they’ll never be able to pick up a phone or text for help. Period. Which is going to be true for most animals. Most five-year-olds know how to make a call.
On the other hand, there are quite a few breeds that can rip the arm off an attacker. Which can be a good thing when someone breaks into your house or just attacks you in broad daylight. But as a dog owner, you need to make sure that if you are going to be walking your dog out in public on a regular basis, that he or she is of the temperament to know friend from foe. While some dogs have this “built-in,” many do not. So, this may require some owner/doggy behavioral training.
No, you won’t have to worry about this one with kids, bunnies, kittens or chicks. So there’s that!
4. Communication: Love that body language.
I’m sorry no animal will ever master the spoken word. Facial expressions and body language are the best you can hope for. Although there is nothing like that look of love on their cute little faces when you get home from a long day at work. And many critters will cuddle up to you on the couch in a heartbeat. In this, they don’t differ from kids one bit!
But then there’s also that barking thing if you get a puppy. Yeah, that’s their way of talking. If they’re lonely, they’ll be barking to see if other dogs will answer back, or to get your attention, or to alert you of danger, maybe. It’s up to you to figure out which is which. The really cool thing (not) is if you don’t figure it out, your neighbors will start pounding on your door in the middle of the night to remind you to do so.
At least kids will eventually be able to talk with you on a decent level. You may not want to hear what they have to say (Again, a whole ‘nother discussion, ha!), but at least you’ll know what they’re saying.
5. Self-Preservation: No pet will ever learn how to prepare their own meals.
Nope, no animal will ever open a can, a bag, or any other type of package. (Unless you leave the bag out where they can get to it. In that case, they’ll tear into it, make a huge mess, and then eat till they drop.) And if you’re going for a more ‘natural’ diet for Fido, Spot, or Fluffy, he’ll never be able to chop the meat and serve himself.
If you think it’s a good idea to leave out enough food to last a couple of days, maybe while you spend a weekend at a friend’s house, think again. Dogs especially have no self-regulation when it comes to eating. They will lick their dish dry the first day and then starve the rest of the time. That’s if they don’t make themselves sick from overeating...which is yet another problem. At least cats will just stop when they’re full. Bunnies and chicks? I’m not sure.
Yeah, I know, I know, babies start out by depending on you too. But they do get to a point where they can pour their own cereal and milk and then eventually have the capability to advance on to cooking full-on meals. Babies and kids also know to stop eating when they’re full.
6. Vacations: Good luck with that!
You can’t ever leave most pets home alone (overnight) because for one, they could eventually starve as I mentioned above. Then there’s the issues with self-entertainment as I already touched on under the “Self-Entertainment” section above.
So vacations become a challenge because you’ll have three choices for your fur baby when you’re planning a vacation:
- One, pay for a good, reputable boarding facility.
- Two, constantly ask friends or relatives to come over DAILY to feed and walk and clean up after your critter. Hopefully said friends or relatives don’t have allergies.
- Three, take your pet with you with the hopes that all hotels, campgrounds, and restaurants (along with other travelers) will welcome it and be able to accommodate it. I know some hotels are now “pet friendly” but you have to pay a pet fee between $25 - $50 per pet. I know because I’ve had to pay when moving a long distance with my two cats. Yikes!
And don’t think you can just sneak them in without mentioning it and without anyone noticing. Hahaha!!! For those of us without dogs, guess what: they do have a smell. And I’ve learned the hard way that some maids have allergies...so yeah, they will figure it out. Also, remember that the check-in clerk does have a copy of your credit card so you will be charged.
The nice thing about kids? Well, you can always take them with you or ask a friend or relative to watch them. And bonus, if all goes well as they get older, they can stay home alone for longer periods of time. Eventually, they move out and take care of themselves.
Pssst! Did you notice I didn’t bring up the cost? Just know It’s not about money, it’s about time and effort. Which by the way, is exactly the same with kids. Y’all need to put a lot of thought into both decisions.
7. So, what usually happens to many gifted pets?
In most cases the recipient of these gifts usually figure out in a couple of weeks that they just can’t handle the work or the cost, or both. So this is what happens to many of these poor animals: The either get dropped off at animal shelters or they get dumped outside.
People who dump bunnies outside, for instance, have the misguided notion that they’re “setting them free.” This seems to be a popular opinion, especially in areas that have a lot of cotton tail rabbits running around. But the problem with that idea is that neither bunnies, chicks or kittens were raised to have the skills or instincts to survive, forage or defend themselves. So this really doesn’t “set them free” or give them "the bunny life." Dumping a domesticated bunny into the wild only guarantees a short life full of suffering.
So, just a tip, if you know of someone who's considering dumping their rabbit, please share this information with them in order to help them to understand what is wrong with that picture.
Also, ask them to involve a rescue or animal welfare organization if they need training or help.
Bottom line, if you’re serious about getting or giving a bunny, chick, puppy or kitten as a gift THINK about the recipient. Do they have the space, time or money to take care of it for the long term? If you’re not sure about the space, time or money involved find some information on the internet first.
Here are a few resources I found for rabbits:
- ouserabbit.ga.com
- orlandorabbit.org
- rabbit.org
And consider adopting an abandoned rabbit rather than buying one at a pet store. The rabbit needs you more than the pet shop or breeder.
So, here's the deal:
Yes reindeer, bunnies, chicks, kittens, and puppies are very cute and very lovable but like kids, they require a lot of time, work, energy, and love. And since they never learn how to talk or take care of themselves, it’s like having a toddler for 12 – 15 years (depending on the breed).
So when anyone tries to tug at your heartstrings and tries to convince you to adopt a pet for whatever reason, please keep these things in mind and please feel free to share this article!
Sincerely,
Jan