Animals more than just a gift

Shelter pets can be a lifelong but rewarding commitment

Adopting a dog or cat during the holiday season can bring a lot of cheer to a household, but it’s not a decision to take lightly.

“I know a bunch of people have a cat or a dog on their Christmas list, so it’s not uncommon to give a pet as a holiday gift,” said Heather Saxton, director of Marketing and Communications at Wanderers’ Rest Humane Association. “I can tell you from personal experience, I put a dog on my list every year and I finally got one at the age of 30 and now I understand why I didn’t get one as a kid. Getting an animal is a wonderful thing, they are absolutely a joy to have, but you have to understand you have to take care of that animal.”

When purchasing an animal as a gift, a Wanderers’ Rest adoption coordinator tries to find the best animal to go with the perfect family. Sometimes, people will see an animal and immediately fall in love with them, Saxton said.

Each animal is unique and an active dog would be a better fit for an active family, just as a laid back and relaxed family would be the best fit for a calm animal.

“If you’re thinking about getting a dog, you really need to think about your personal wants and needs as well. Sometimes having a young puppy when you’re a little bit older and can’t really take the time to train and take care of them might not be a good. It’s important to find the perfect fit,” Saxton said. “We do see some people kind of over look that and get an animal that isn’t the perfect fit. We really want to encourage everybody to really do their research before they adopt.”

And while cats are more self-sufficient and end up as more of a roommate, Saxton said there are exceptions to the rule. Cats and dogs can share anxiety issues and many cats can share mannerisms normally associated with dogs.

There are a number of opportunities to volunteer at pet shelters, giving people the chance to get to know the different kind of animals out there and find the best one that suits them, Saxton said.

Should your child find themselves with a new puppy come Christmas, Saxton said they still need to be trained, especially to go outside. When caring for an animal during the winter, Saxton said as a rule of thumb, if you think it’s cold outside, your animal will as well. Short-haired breeds such as terriers, beagles and pugs will find it harder to stay out longer than dog breeds made for cold weather like Siberian huskies or Newfoundlands.

And if an animal is active, they still need to get rid of that excess energy, even if it is to run around in the snow.

But through it all, holiday seasons are special for pet shelters, whether people are adopting or living up to the giving spirit.

“We are truly grateful around the holiday season. We find the community is very generous as donations go. Not just monetary, but food and toys for the animals as well. We are very appreciative of that,” Saxton said.

Wanderers’ Rest is accepting donations and while food and toys are always appreciative, the biggest thing needed by the shelter is cleaning supplies. Bleach, paper towels and even toilet paper are accepted and any gently used towels and blankets are always needed to comfort and warm the animals.

PHOTO COURTESY OF WANDERERS’ REST Franklin is one of the dogs that calls Wanderers’ Rest home and is up for adoption.