Tis the season for pet presents
Yes, Fluffy does deserve a Christmas stocking of her own, says Kylie Klein-Nixon.
Iused to rollmy eyes at people who buy their pets gifts for Christmas. Talk about privilege: If you can blow hard-earned cash on turkeyshaped squeaky toys, doggie-sized reindeer antlers and tiny elf suits for your cat, you’re soaking in it.
But then I ended up not having kids, and my nephews grew out of wanting to be wantonly spoilt and suddenly I’m standing in the Christmas decorations aisle wondering if I should get my dog a Christmas stocking.
I have softened, somewhat, to the idea of gifts for pets. By softening, of course, Imean flopped over like awell chewed stuffed toy.
‘‘The vast majority of people in New Zealand would consider their companion animals as part of the family,’’ says the SPCA’s national education manager Nicole Peddie.
‘‘For many of us, it’s only natural to include our non-human family members in our family celebrations and traditions.’’
For those who celebrate Christmas, it’s a time for kindness, sharing and inclusion, Peddie says. ‘‘Including our fur-kids is a given.’’ Companion animals also provide comfort and support for those spending the holiday season alone, or who find the period stressful. Shopping, or making gifts, for them is a pleasant distraction from loneliness, too.
There’s the excitement of choosing what to give them; then there’s the fun of watching Fido and Snowball rip into it and play with their new toy.
‘‘In my case, this is quickly followed by the slight disappointment that my dogs are more excited ripping up the wrapping paper than they are by the toy inside – I’m sure many dog parents will relate.’’
I totally can, this year I bought my dog a hamper. Don’t you dare judge me. If the empty racks in Kmart’s pet costume section – yes, non-pet owners, there is awhole pet costume section – are anything to go by, we’re already well and truly obsessed with buying for our pets.
In a quick straw poll of my pet-loving pals (I seem to have acquired loads – a pride of petfanciers, if you will) the majority say they always buy Christmas and birthday presents for their furpals.
As for the naysayers, one simply said they avoid it because: ‘‘For my cats, every day is like Christmas. They’re the spoilt kings and queens of cats!’’
It’s not like Good Boys and Good Girls don’t earn those pressies.
‘‘Scientifically, the presence of a companion during stressful activities has been shown to lower the blood pressure,’’ says Peddie.
In fact, levels of beta-endorphin, oxytocin and dopamine increase in humans and their dogs when we stroke them or play with them, which shows that positive time spent together is physiologically beneficial for both species. Tummy rubs for the win!
‘‘That may explain why we enjoy giving them gifts so much,’’ she says.
Petting an animal, whether it’s yours or not, has been proven to make older folks feel more hale and hearty, and even help dementia patients. Therapy dogs protect some of our most vulnerable members of society, giving them the security to participate in life in ways they might not have been able to before.
And no matter how crummy you feel about yourself, when you have a pet, there’s always someone who thinks you’re as exciting as the
All Blacks, a Six60 show and every single one of The Avengers characters rolled into one.
I reckon that’s worth a head of lettuce, some catnip or a beef bone with a big red ribbon on it, right?
Add to that they don’t give a growl, whine or bark about the latest toys, fads or must-have iPhone – if it’s edible or squeaks, you’re on to a winner – making them by far the easiest family members to buy for, then the real question is obvious...
Why wouldn’t you give a pressie to your pet?