This upcoming season of holidays brings the pressure of getting presents for family and friends. Presents that are given range from small to large, from trinkets and toys to cars and jewelry…even pets. But giving a gift of a pet requires special consideration–there are many facets to examine. A pet is a huge responsibility and a long-term commitment. The choice needs to be thought out thoroughly before bringing an animal into the family. At the very least, a pet requires food, water, a proper environment, vet visits, as well as time and energy. This is true whether you’re talking about a large pet like a dog or a small pet like a hamster or fish. Every pet has needs, regardless of size.

As much as giving a pet as a gift may seem like a good idea, for the joy that they can bring, in some cases it’s not. Pets are not the same type of gift as that of an inanimate object. The recipient of this present should be aware and prepared to take care of an animal. 

“It truly depends,” said Officer Jaclyn Rosenberg, the operator at the Coos County Animal Shelter. “If it is a family that has decided it’s time for the children to have more responsibility, and are looking for a pet that the whole family is going to support, they’ve been having this discussion for some time. No, it’s not a bad idea to get it around that point in time.”

Time is a huge consideration in taking a pet into the home, and during winter break, many families have more time to spend at home.  

“From the aspect that the children tend to be off for about two weeks where they can really focus in on transitioning the dog(or other pet) into the home, getting a real routine and schedule going, then adapting that schedule a little bit when they go back to school,” said Rosenberg.

The best circumstance in which to give someone a pet would be if that person was a family member who was also interested in caring for the animal. The most common example of this is parents getting their kid a pet for Christmas or another holiday, which would certainly be one that they remember and hopefully love. 

“I think it’s really important that the whole family agrees on a pet,” said Jennifer ViksneHill, a science teacher at Marshfield High School, and a pet owner herself. “Giving a pet as a present doesn’t allow the kid to help pick it out, which is important–especially if it’s going to be ‘their’ pet.”

On top of being prepared for a pet, a person receiving a pet would have to be suitable to whatever kind of pet or breed the animal is. For instance, you could get a high energy dog for someone who can’t handle that much activity. One negative outcome that is possible when buying a pet for someone without their knowledge is an unwanted pet. Unwanted pets can eventually end up in an animal shelter, or worse–they can be neglected or left on the street.

“We do not adopt out as a gift,” Rosenberg said. “When someone adopts they’re adopting for themselves.”

The options for purchasing a pet in Coos Bay are limited to a few animal shelters, breeders, and everyday people who have pets they don’t want to or are unable to take care of. One of the animal shelters available is the Coos County Animal Shelter which is governed by the Animal Control Department of the Coos County Sheriff’s Office. The shelter’s main purpose is to temporarily provide shelter to animals in need. 

“By all means, get them from a shelter,” said Gloria Kohl, who helps run Kohl’s cat care.

The best place to get a pet is from an animal shelter and nonprofit organizations like Kohl’s which focuses mainly on cats. They run an adoption agency to place out the cats that they rescue after making sure they’re healthy and provide them with vet care as needed, similar to the Coos County Animal shelter. The cats that they rescue come from different situations including being found as strays, or brought in for any number of reasons. 

“Each one[cat] has a story,” Kohl explained.

Regardless of where they come from pets are something to cherish and appreciate even after all the work that’s put into them. Pets are also known to be linked to mental and physical benefits like decreasing loneliness and anxiety. For those same reasons and more it can be beneficial for children to grow up around animals. There are many benefits to having pets and they should be adopted under ideal circumstances.