Everybody enjoys the photo-making moment and magical memory of a child or loved one opening the first or last box under the tree to find a puppy, kitten, or some other pet. There is no question that pets make great gifts — the kind that keeps giving for years. However, there is another side to this long-standing tradition. 

According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), it’s best to give pets only to those who have expressed a sustained interest in owning a pet. Ideally, the recipient or recipient’s family should have the time, space, finances, and sense of what kind of pet or breed would be ideal. 

4 Considerations Before Pets Make Great Gifts

1. Time. Some pets need more attention than others, and how much care might depend on the animal or breed. For example, dogs need more attention than most animals, and their care is often likened to raising another child. Small birds, like a canary, are generally believed to be on the other end of the spectrum.

2. Space. Along with time, space is always a consideration. A smaller dog or cat may feel comfortable in a small home with any other accommodations, but other pets might require a fixed space within that same home. Rats, for example, need a cage with multiple levels similar to a gerbil or hamster. And ferrets, which do better in groups, always need a larger cage with varied levels. 

3. Cost. Again, dogs tend to be the most expensive pets to own per year, almost twice as much as the cost to own a cat and ten times as much to own a fish. In fact, Goldfish, Guinea pigs, hermit crabs, dwarf frogs, and rabbits tend to cost the least per year unless the owner invests in an elaborate tank or cage. 

4. Preferences. The most common reason to return a pet is a behavioral issue that the new home may not be equipped to handle. When it comes to dogs, picking a beagle, basset hound, or golden retriever might be a better bet than other breeds because they tend to be even-tempered and kind. Ferrets, hedgehogs, hamsters, and Guinea pigs love hugs and affection. However, pet preferences are often in the eye of the owner. 

Pet Owners Become Attached Even If They Know In Advance

Another solution to picking the right pet for the holidays is to plan in advance or after the fact. The ASPCA and other animal-friendly associations almost always advise visiting an animal shelter first. Doing so with the future pet owner will increase the odds of finding the right pet based on behavior, training, and personality type. In fact, many fur baby owners report that the pet they take home helped pick them as much as they picked the pet. 

Interestingly, whether someone knows they are receiving a pet in advance or being surprised on Christmas Day doesn’t impact their attachment to a pet. So, in some ways, inviting them to pick their pet might be more fun than a box opening. 

One way to enjoy the best of both worlds is to wrap up something that symbolizes the pet — like a toy, bowl, or bow — and then help pick out the pet in the following days. This will give the future pet parent an opportunity to visit the shelter, spend time with several animals, select the perfect pet, and ensure some level of compatibility. 

Once selected, the new pet owner can help complete all the adoption paperwork. If the shelter has enrolled the pet with All About Spot, all of your pet’s information will be stored on the site for at least 30 days with the option to renew. If the shelter hasn’t enrolled your pet, an annual Pet Records membership can be a great gift. 

Pet Records stores all the vital information about pets, which can be shared with vets, pet sitters, or anyone who cares for the pet parttime. Pet owners can also include preferred treats, playtimes, and any other information they want to share about their pets, including whether they have separation anxiety, are afraid of storms, or enjoy chasing other animals. 

While some organizations discourage pets as presents, the ASPCA has found no significant uptick in animal surrenders immediately after the holidays. So, with proper planning and consideration, puppies, kittens, and pets make great gifts. You could be helping one of the 6.3 million companion animals who enter U.S. animal shelters nationwide every year by finding them a forever home.