"Fido," "Spike" and "The Dancer" each thought they were getting a new home for the holidays. Fido, a sweet 10-week-old lab mix and The Dancer, a playful Domestic Long Hair kitten, were enthusiastically adopted from the Humane Society Bergen County in Lyndhurst before Christmas. Spike, a lab-mix puppy, was bought during the holidays at a pet store. Now, just a week after Christmas, The Dancer and Fido are back at the shelter and with Spike in tow.
Kathy Johnson, from the Humane Society, is not surprised, however. Pets are too often bought as "warm and fuzzy gifts," but what the giver doesn’t realize is, pets can’t be exchanged like sweaters. Johnson said it’s early, and she expects more to be returned from the holiday season. Buying pets as a gift is never a good idea, she adds. Matching a pet with an owner is personal thing. In addition, the holidays are usually too hectic to give an animal the attention it requires.
"Many people buy pets as Christmas gifts because they think they’re cute." But, Johnson says, "Puppies don’t come with housebreaking manuals."
Two of the pets that were adopted from the Humane Society Bergen County have been returned despite their good nature and health. Fido has a sweet nature. The Dancer was returned because the owners claim they’re allergic, although Johnson feels that it was returned because the owners didn’t realize that "kittens run around and like to play."
Another dog, Spike, was given to the shelter after being, but was originally bought from the pet store. The owners had been leaving it outside for long periods of time before deciding a puppy did not fit their lifestyle and then handing it over to the shelter.
Johnson says she even discouraged a man from adopting a puppy on Christmas Eve to give to his 9-year-old and 12-year-old children.
"That is not the way we do it," Johnson said. The shelter refused to let him take the puppy.
Though they seem like fun, pets are a huge responsibility that takes a lot of time. Many families where both parents work and the kids go to school during the day don’t have the time to train them. Later they find they can’t handle the pets no matter how cute and good-natured they may be.
Johnson said, especially with the very cold temperatures lately, many people don’t want to have to worry about taking a dog out.
The pet adoption process can be a long one, as owners should be matched with pets that fit their personalities. Breeds should be researched and the pet’s personality should match the family’s lifestyle. This means that last-minute pet buying rarely works out.
The Humane Society Bergen County not only offers pets for families who are looking to adopt, but it also provides emergency care for and information about animals and assistance for pet owners. The group also works with other humane organizations both locally and nationally to give information about animals.
Anyone interested in adopting a pet can call the Humane Society at 201-LOST-PET and will be matched with a pet that would fit their needs and personalities. Being matched with a pet rather than just choosing one will prevent a pet from being returned in the future.
