The Perfect Christmas Gift? I Think Not.

Can you find what's wrong with this picture? (Hint: It's about what you can't see). 

With the holiday season approaching, I must digress with the likelihood of more and more families opting to give pets as gifts this Christmas.  

While an increasing amount of experts have advised against doing so, the reality is that people are going to do what they want to do, regardless.  While those for mentioned experts have related their concerns due to probability of people being scammed, it’s isn’t necessarily the business aspect I am so distasteful of; 

it’s more about where that puppy (or kitten) came from.

The one that probably looks so ridiculously cute wearing a red bow, carefully placed in box with an open lid.

The one that is going to cause the receiver of the “gift” to squeal in excitement and pure joy at the site of such an adorable little animal.

The one that has become a stereotypical Hallmark holiday card sentiment, 

the memorable television commercial,

 the scene in many of Hollywood adaptations.

In this case, the reality is more about what you can’t see; and it’s something that certainly wouldn’t bode well on a Christmas card: 

Puppy mills.

Now before you peg me as a 

Debbie Downer (it’s quite a sad reality, folks),

or the Lorax (I speak for the animals, here),

or the Grinch (proclaiming to rob many of their Christmas of pet-giving),

Please become aware of puppy mills by reading more here.  

It’s more than just about being an informed consumer. 

It’s about having compassion;

 and frankly for me, it’s more about being a decent human being in general.

While we may not be able to change where the puppy stores get their pets from, or be able to divide and conquer every puppy mill establishment in the United States, there is something thing that we CAN do:

Don’t shop at puppy stores, 

forgo the pulls of interest-free financing and a free puppy starter kit. 

  Opt to check out and investigate local breeders, 

and never underestimate the love of a shelter animal. 

Before I’m pegged as a hypocrite, I must profess that I visit the puppy store near our townhouse for my daughter, whose love for cats and dogs knows no limits.  However, on a more often occasion I take her to the nearby Virginia Beach SPCA so we can visit all the wonderful shelter animals and donate all the change that we can possibly find. 

This is my husband and my daughter with a puppy (at the puppy store) that, while we had no intention (or the financial means) of purchasing, did melt our hearts nevertheless.

(Side note: I cried when we left; I hope so much that he will go home to a wonderful forever home).

Yet, I know in my heart that this puppy, who had recently gotten over an upper respiratory infection, was shipped from Oklahoma, and currently on sale for $1800, came from a puppy mill.  It is hard to rationalize how any breeder that loved their animals could sell them without knowing what person or family they were going home with. 

Please keep in mind this holiday season that giving a pet as a gift isn’t an idea to be advised against due to poor business practices; 

it’s not the best of ideas because a pet isn’t an item to be gorgeously wrapped and placed under the tree Christmas morning.

A pet is a long-term commitment, and rightfully so:

They become a part of the family.

(If you are interested in taking a stand against the inhumane practices of puppy mills, please head here to become  part of a petition from The Animal Rescue Site; we owe it to our four-legged friends).