BAY COUNTY, Fla. (WMBB) – At local animal shelters, the holidays often bring a wave of adoptions, but it’s the months that follow when some of those pets come back.
That’s why officials advise that before you surprise someone with a furry friend, make sure you’re ready for the long-term commitment.
“We never want to discourage adoptions. We’d love to see all of our animals get a home for the holidays. But what you have to think about is that pets aren’t presents. Pets are a commitment; dogs and cats live ten to 20 years, sometimes,” Bay County Animal Services Manager Serina Junger said.
December is one of the busiest months at animal shelters. But officials say they often see a lot of those same animals returned in just February or March.
However, the heartbreak of returning a pet can often be avoided.
“You need to think to yourself, ‘Do I have that time?’ We all have busy schedules, work, and travel. A lot of people do sports with their kids. So, if you’ve already got a very busy schedule and you hardly have time for yourself, you need to think about moving another animal in a kitten or a dog, it’s not going to be fair to the animal or not fair to you either,” Junger said.
Officials say there are gifting alternatives that can lead to a responsible adoption process.
“A good suggestion is to purchase collars, purchase toys, maybe some supplies. Give that as the gift with a note or a card that says, ‘Hey, after the holidays, we’ll go and pick the perfect pet together,’ so that helps. But really just knowing that you’re going to be able to budget for the animal. Now you have additional food, you have vet care [to pay for],” Junger said.
Shelters want to remind everyone that adopting an animal can be a magical experience when it’s a well-considered decision.
If you have questions about responsible pet ownership or you’re ready for a new four-legged family member, contact or visit Bay County Animal Control.
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