Lee Linklater holds some kittens that her shelter, Assisi Animal Foundation in Crystal Lake, ready for adoption. The vacation season is a busy time for rescues, with individuals giving up pets and households trying to undertake for the vacations. (Gregory Shaver/Shaw Local News Network )
It’s a factor that vacation motion pictures are product of. The household comes down Christmas morning to discover a snuggly little puppy or kitten underneath the tree, carrying an enormous pink bow. Christmas, made!
But those that run animal shelters and rescues say that whereas the thought of a brand new pet for Christmas could also be interesting, the reality of it isn’t one thing that must be taken frivolously.
Many shelters throughout the nation are at capability. According to a nationwide database run by shelteranimalscount.org, the present development reveals canine adoptions down 1.2% from 2022 numbers. Meanwhile, the months from January to September 2023 noticed a 2.5% enhance in canine consumption. For cats, the quantity coming into animal welfare organizations as strays elevated by 9% in comparison with 2021.
Isabelle “Lee” Linklater, government director of Assisi Animal Foundation simply exterior Crystal Lake, mentioned she sees two issues taking place.
For one, there are “so many unwanted animals.” At the identical time, there may be the everyday vacation inflow of households who wish to undertake pets as presents to their kids. That would possibly look like an issue with an answer, however Linklater mentioned her shelter is “careful about where (their animals) go.”
“Every holiday is like this,” Linklater mentioned. “Many people think of it as a box of Fannie Mae, but it’s a lifetime responsibility.”
While it would lack the drama of a Christmas morning puppy shock, Linklater mentioned many households she’s interacted with have well determined to attend till after the vacations to carry a brand new pet into the family.
She identified that the vacations can usually be hectic sufficient as it’s – with company coming out and in, plenty of meals inside attain, sizzling oven doorways opening and shutting, Christmas bushes and presents that might be broken. Adding a brand new pet to the combination can simply be an excessive amount of.
On the opposite aspect of the equation are the numerous well-intentioned individuals who can not maintain their pets. Linklater mentioned that inflation has been an issue for a lot of pet house owners.
“The fact of the matter is inflation has driven up the cost of pet ownership,” Linklater mentioned. “The price of veterinary care has skyrocketed. People just can’t afford it.”
It’s essential to know that whereas adopters are in excessive demand, the very best consequence is for the animal to enter a home ready for such a dedication so the adoption doesn’t lead to proprietor relinquishment.
“A lot of it comes down to how well a rescue places an animal in an adopter’s home,” mentioned Donna Matejka, president and CEO of Helping Paws Animal Shelter in Woodstock.
Echoing Linklater’s reminder {that a} pet is a long-term dedication, Matejka supplied a compromise in place of the dwell reveal on Christmas morning to provide a household the suitable planning time.
“You can always put a stuffed animal in a box that represents the gift, to have time to shop for the best fit as a unit,” Matejka mentioned. “Consider the following: Do we have the time to take care of this pet? Do we have time to take them for walks if it’s a dog? Do we have a sizable backyard, preferably with a fence? What is the best time of year? It’s important to talk and plan as a family. Don’t do it just because it’s Christmas.”
Matejka mentioned a powerful help system – individuals who can let the canine out and walk them when you’re going to be gone for an prolonged interval – can also be ultimate.
“If you’re someone who isn’t home as much, maybe a cat is a better choice since they don’t have to be let out as much,” Matejka mentioned.
Matejka mentioned volunteering or fostering is a good way to get first-hand expertise with varied breeds and ages to find out what is likely to be an excellent match for you and your loved ones when you’re contemplating including a brand new pet. She additionally recommends that when you really feel your loved ones is extra of a one-cat or one-dog family, make plans for the animal’s socialization with different animals, not simply individuals.
If you’re not ready for a brand new pet, volunteering, fostering and donating are all avenues to help the animals in your group which can be with out properties.
