What was your dream present as a child? It may have been a toy you had your eye on for months, something bigger maybe like a bike perhaps or the latest tech to hit the shelves. Well how many of you begged your parents for a pet?
A dog to me seemed like the ultimate gift. Who wouldn’t want one? As a family it was always an idea to be considered. A pet would be the perfect addition but we knew that bringing an animal into the house would be no easy task. So, here’s a quick rundown to help you make your mind up about whether a pet should be at the top of your list!
All of us have our own schedules to work around and as a wannabe pet owner, it’s so important to factor in time. Will you have enough time to spare to care for your animal? Is everyone in the household prepared to lend a hand? If not, would you consider paying for a dog-walker or sitter to be there for when you’re not? Neglect is something that no animal should suffer from, but unfortunately more do than you’d think. Last year the RSPCA investigated over 57,000 complaints of animal cruelty. A statistic which makes my stomach turn. In consequence, these ‘prefect presents’ end up in animal shelters or charities to be cared for and rehomed.
The Cheltenham and East Gloucestershire branch works along side this campaign. If you wanted to show some support details on donating can be found on their website.
We wanted a dog for years. After two years of searching, my mum had spotted an advertisement in the paper of all places for Cocker spaniel puppies. It seemed too good to be true, but her and my step-dad made the trip to the breeder. Leading to my next point; Is the breeder trusted?
My dog came fully chipped, was bought at the legal age (8 weeks by the way) and even came with a family tree! Now I’m not saying you need to have your pet’s whole family history, but be cautious on who you buy from. In the UK, breeders must have a license if they breed 3 or more litters in a year, Scotland is slightly more at 5. The issue of designer animals could be discussed for more words than I have to write this article. Dogs are among the most common to be affected by poor breeding, which can leave them with a range of health problems and medical defects. Do you research! Make sure you don’t just pick the first person who offers you what you think is a good deal.
If you’re unsure or have doubts about how to care for your pet you can get in contact with Cheltenham Animal Shelter. The Shelter also provides educational talks with experts who are on hand to advise pet owners, or those looking to buy a pet, on the responsibilities of animal welfare. It ensures that owners have to meet a certain criterion with the animal’s welfare taking the main focus.
One of my main worries is people don’t take enough care over their decision making. Obviously, this could apply to a lot of things in life but when pets are involved it’s a totally different ball game. Realistically, you can be your own judge. Understand the responsibilities of pet ownership. Don’t be that person to let the novelty run dry. Maybe just stick to choosing from the Boots catalogue this year.
Pets are for life, not just for Christmas!
