Although an animal friend such as a rabbit or a puppy dog or cat is at the top of many children's wish lists, the German Animal Welfare Federation would like to emphasize that animals are not suitable as Christmas presents. They come with a great deal of responsibility and cannot be put aside as soon as you have "had enough of them". If the adoption of an animal was not well thought out and the owner is increasingly confronted with the actual demands and needs of the animal, this often leads to these animals ending up in the already overcrowded animal shelters. The German Animal Welfare Federation therefore recommends preparing thoroughly and, above all, together for a possible new family member. When deciding on a pet, the first stop should always be the animal shelter.
"All too often, the initial enthusiasm of the recipient gives way to the unembellished fact that an animal needs a lot of care and costs money and time. As animal shelters are already overcrowded with animals that have been acquired without much thought, we can only vehemently advise against giving an animal as a gift - whether for Christmas or any other occasion. After all, an animal is not a toy or a book, but a sentient being with its own species-specific needs," says Lea Schmitz from the German Animal Welfare Federation.
INSTEAD OF A HOME FOR LIFE, MANY ANIMALS END UP IN A SHELTER
When everyday life settles in after the holidays, many recipients gradually realize that the new pet is a lot of work, costs money or simply doesn't fit in well with their own or their family's life. Many parents realize that a large part of the care is down to them and that they have to feed the animals, clean the enclosure or take the dog out - even though the children had promised to do this. Some animals therefore end up in the animal shelter immediately after Christmas. In many cases, however, ill-considered animal gifts only become noticeable in the course of the following year - after a few weeks or months. This is often the reason for giving the animal away, especially when the summer vacation season is approaching and there are no care options available. The recipient pulls the ripcord; the animal "has to go".
The German Animal Welfare Federation recommends that people who want to take an animal into their family should find out about its needs in detail beforehand and weigh up the pros and cons. If the decision is made in favor of an animal, it is worth making an initial visit to an animal shelter, where animals of all kinds and ages are waiting for a new home. The shelter staff's expertise and experience with their charges can also help to find the right animal. However, even if the decision has been carefully considered, Christmas with all its hustle and bustle is not the ideal time for an animal housemate to move in, according to the German Animal Welfare Federation.
