Each year thousands of pets are given as gifts for the holidays and every spring many of those pets are abandoned or dropped off at shelters. Today I have some reasons why you should not give a pet as a gift in this edition of Pet Pointers.

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The holidays are a very busy time of year and you may not have time during the hustle and bustle to care for a new pet properly, especially a young pet. Puppies, kittens and all young animals need special gentle care, proper nutrition and lots of sleep to grow up happy and healthy. New pets, young or adults, also need time to adjust to a new family and excited children can possibly injure pets or be injured by them in all the holiday commotion.

Will you have time to house train a puppy or help a young kitten learn to use a litter box? Young pets also need to see a vet within the first few weeks to receive health checkups and a few weeks later they will need their first vaccinations.

Adopting a pet is a very personal experience and the selection should involve the new pat parents who will be responsible for the pet. Each animal, like each person is an individual soul that will connect with another, like falling in love.

A better option than giving a pet is giving the promise of a pet. Write a note that says, “This is a promise of a future pet that we will choose together in the coming new year" and give it in a beautiful box. Your loved one will appreciate the gesture and give you both something to look forward to.

When it is time to add a new pet to your family, consider adoption first! There are rescue groups for just about every type of pet from cats and dogs to ferrets, reptiles and parrots there is an animal out there waiting for a forever home.