Animal shelter urges people to think twice before getting a pet
Influx of unwanted presents from Christmas time
Published:
AN ABERDEEN animal shelter is receiving an influx of unwanted pets from people who failed to realise that a puppy is not just for Christmas.
Around 20 pets were given away to Mrs Murray's Home for Stray Dogs and Cats and Rehoming Centre last month, many from families who bought an animal as a Christmas present.
Staff at the shelter say that the “recurring problem” could be avoided if people stopped to think about the effort needed to take care of a live animal.
The shelter, in Seaton Place East, refuses to rehome dogs and cats in late December, to try to prevent pets being thoughtlessly given as presents.
However, animals are still bought from friends and through private ads in the run-up to Christmas, and every year the shelter has to deal with the repercussions.
The shelter’s assistant manager, Neil Raffan, said that people quickly realise that tending to an animal’s needs is too much to cope with.
“It’s a recurring problem every year – it’s just like a big cycle,” he said.
“People realise that they haven’t thought about what they are taking on.
“They often say that puppies are being destructive, but they have to realise that this is part of its growing process, especially if it is left alone in a home all day while its owners are at work.”
The shelter can hold around 40 dogs and around 20 cats.
Staff are commonly told by parents that a young child is allergic to an animal given as a present.
Animal welfare experts warned that a pet should never be bought by someone who is not prepared to take care of it for the rest of its life.
Scottish SPCA superintendent Mike Flynn said the charity “braces itself” for widespread reports of unwanted animals at this time of year.
He said: “We are starting to see the effects of this already with a huge number of rabbits and small pets coming in to our care. We'd expect this to continue for the next couple of months as the novelty of the Christmas puppy or kitten begins to wear off.
“Simply put, you should never get an animal on a whim or as a surprise gift for loved ones, children especially.”
