Pets as Holiday Gifts: What to Know

“Does the recipient even want a pet? A lot of times, people project their own interests onto other people. While that’s true for every kind of holiday gift, it matters a little bit more when talking about a living present.”

Lisa Millot, JD, Annie and Zack Stanton Distinguished Professor in Canine Welfare Law and Practicum in Animal Welfare Skills Director, University of Georgia School of Law

Giving pets as holiday gifts can seem heartwarming, but it carries substantial responsibilities that potential pet owners should consider. Traditional media has portrayed pets as gifts as a heartwarming and magical experience. Many films and advertisements feature scenes where a cute kitten or an eager puppy with a festive bow appears as the ultimate surprise, capturing the essence of holiday cheer. Think about when Jim Dear gifts his wife Darling with a cocker spaniel puppy named Lady for Christmas in “Lady and the Tramp.”

While gifting a pet can sometimes play out like the movies, it is more complicated than popping a bow on a kitten: “I think there are circumstances where gifting a pet can be appropriate, but it’s really important to understand whether this is something the other person wants and is fully prepared for,” says Lisa Millot, the Annie and Zack Stanton Distinguished Professor in Canine Welfare Law and practicum in animal welfare skills director at the University of Georgia School of Law.

It is crucial to understand the needs of different animals and assess whether they align with the recipient’s ability to provide proper care. Millot notes that picking out a pet for someone is a very personal task. You must know the household well and understand what they seek in their next companion to do so properly. “I have six dogs. If somebody was going to get me a dog, finding one that would fit my lifestyle would take a lot of work. It’s hard for somebody to do well without being in the same household,” says Millot.

Owning a pet is a significant responsibility that extends far beyond the initial excitement of bringing a new animal into the home. “Like bringing a child into the home, getting a pet is a big commitment. You don’t get to control what their health is like. You don’t get to control their personality. What you can control is the care you give them,” shares Millot. “You want to really think through whether this is a good fit for the recipient or if there is a way to do something like volunteering or fostering that could help them get that connection with a pet without the big commitment.”

Millot believes it is possible to gift a pet to someone properly. Keep reading to learn the consequences of a gifted pet not working out, the considerations to take before gifting a pet, and advice on how to do it correctly.

Meet the Expert: Lisa Millot, JD

Consequences Of Gifting a Pet if It Doesn’t Work Out

While giving someone a pet as a gift may seem like an act of kindness, it can lead to serious consequences if the recipient is not prepared for the commitment.

Gifted pets that don’t work out often end up in shelters or are given away again to other owners. This can have adverse effects on both the animal and the recipient. The animal may suffer from abandonment issues and may struggle to adjust to new environments. At the same time, the recipient may feel guilty and overwhelmed by their inability to care for the pet properly.

“It depends on the type of animal, but we see a high failure rate with rabbits because people don’t really understand how much care a rabbit requires,” notes Millot. “When they get their child a rabbit for Easter, many of those rabbits end up being let loose because people think rabbits can care for themselves. But these are domesticated rabbits, and they don’t have the survival skills of wild rabbits.”

A study conducted by the ASPCA found that 86 percent of gifted pets remain in the home, but that means 14 percent of animals get rehomed. Which, according to Millot, is still a lot.

While smaller pets like chicks and rabbits might get surrendered or returned quickly, that’s not true for cats and dogs: “We don’t see them coming into a shelter in the weeks or even the month or two after they’re received as gifts. We see them coming to the shelter when they are nine to 12 months old. Perhaps now they are bigger than the recipient thought they would be. They are not yet trained because they’re teenagers, which can mean behavioral issues. We see many dogs coming into shelters from the juvenile to teenage stage because the people who got them weren’t prepared for life post-puppy or kittenhood,” observes Millot.

Unfortunately, that then causes issues for the animals when they are adopted out of the shelter: “People getting a year-old dog from a shelter, for example, think they might be getting a house-trained dog. They might be getting one that already knows some obedience. But that’s not the case. A lot of times, if the animals come into the shelter, they’re there because the gift recipient or other person who got up didn’t want to take that time,” notes Millot.

Practical & Ethical Considerations

Before gifting a pet, Millot believes it is essential to consider the following factors to ensure that the recipient is ready and able to provide proper care for the animal:

Personality

“Just like people, pets each have their own personality,” warns Millot. It’s important to ensure that the recipient’s personality and lifestyle match the pet you have in mind. For example, a high-energy dog may not be the best fit if the recipient is more of an introvert who enjoys quiet evenings at home. On the other hand, an active person who loves spending time outdoors may appreciate a dog with lots of energy to join them on adventures.

Financial Obligations

Owning a pet comes with financial responsibilities. Pets can be expensive, from food and toys to veterinary care and grooming. Before gifting a pet, ensure that the recipient is financially prepared to take on these expenses: “Different types of pets have different financial obligations with them. A hamster is not an expensive animal, but the initial setup for the hamster costs a lot. So if you wanted to get someone a hamster, instead, you could purchase the cage, the wheel, and all of the accouterments for the hamster up front,” suggests Millot.

“A dog might not have as many expenses up front, but the monthly expenses for a dog can add up once you start talking about flea and heartworm medications, training, and veterinary care. If you plan to gift a dog, make sure they can pay for those expenses regularly, or instead gift them a local training class or get them a gift certificate to a pet store.”

Age of Pet

There is no denying that puppies and kittens are cute, but they are a lot of work. “if you have someone who might not have as much experience with pets, it’s a great idea to consider getting them like a two- or three-year-old dog. Find one from a rescue group in a foster home already, so the dog is much better known. They’re probably crate-trained. They are likely house-trained. The foster family will know how they get along with other animals or with kids. That could make them a much better gift for someone, rather than that puppy or kitten that looks so cute, but it is a big question once they get older,” advises Millot.

Time Commitment

Pets require time, more time than most people realize, notes Millot. When considering gifting a pet, it’s important to consider the time commitment necessary for proper care. This includes daily activities like feeding and walking and long-term responsibilities such as grooming, socialization, and training.

Advice on How to Successfully Gift a Pet

If you have considered all of the above factors and still want to gift a pet, Millot has seen one method work well: “Getting a pet from a foster home, where there’s much more known about them, is a good idea,” she encourages. “Many rescue groups have foster-to-adopt situations where you could try out the pets for a few weeks to see if it’s a good fit. You can always pay the adoption fee and let the recipient foster to adopt to make sure it fits in the home.”

In fact, a trial period can be very successful in ensuring a good fit: “The best situation I had with a pet gift was when a woman contacted me about a dog named Rose I was fostering. She was interested in getting a dog for her kids as a Christmas present. We worked out that she would dog sit for me for two weeks before Christmas so her family could get to know the dog and see if she was a good fit or not,” shares Millot. “If she was a good fit, she would give the dog to her family for Christmas. It was perfect because it meant they got to know the dog, the kids got attached to it, and then we were all very confident that that would work out for the long run.”

Special Considerations When Gifting a Pet to a Child

Gifting a pet to a child is different from gifting one to an adult. There are special considerations that need to be taken into account. “People like to get pets for children. I think it’s great if children have a pet to bond with and grow up with. The problem with kids, of course, is that if you’re getting them a pet, the parent will likely be responsible for the pet. Certainly, they are responsible financially, but also in terms of care, and the pet itself is vulnerable,” notes Millot.

Unfortunately, gifting a pet to a child in hopes that they become more responsible rarely works out: “You want to be careful that you’re not getting a child a pet to try and change the child’s behavior and make them responsible. You can’t guarantee that’s going to happen, and you don’t want the pet to suffer,” warns Millot. “You have to make sure the parents are looped into the gift planning. It should never be a surprise for the adults in the household because if they’re not prepared for the pet, those cases we see come into court. Somebody gifted a pet to a child, but the parent has not properly cared for the pet. The child learns improper care of animals. The animal is suffering. The parent is frustrated.”