With the arrival of Christmas, the demand for a new furry member of the family increases. Often it is the youngest members of the household who ask Father Christmas or the Three Wise Men to adopt that new dream friend, but giving an animal as a gift is not the same as giving a toy, it means an important decision and there are several aspects to take into account.
Therefore, to advise you in this process, we have asked Sonrisa Animal, a non-profit association with which we collaborate, which is dedicated to animal welfare, located in Utebo, Zaragoza. They know better than anyone what you need to consider before welcoming a new member and friend into your home.
What do I need to consider?
When you adopt an animal you are giving them the chance they deserve to be happy, while they, in turn, will give you all their love, loyalty and companionship. However, an adoption is not a whim, nor is it a decision to be taken lightly.
Sonrisa Animal tell us first hand that at Christmas the number of homeless pets increases and their shelter reaches its limits of occupation, so at this time their work is more important than ever, this is one of the reasons why “the shelters may seem too strict or demanding, but the welfare of animals goes through a correct choice and a good adaptation to the new family” explains Carmen Cabeza, a volunteer of the association Sonrisa Animal.
- When you think that adopting an animal is the best Christmas present, “you should think about whether the new owners will be responsible enough to take on this new challenge”, say the association. This is often the case with parents who want to fulfil one of their children’s wishes, but they often don’t think about the fact that these animals have needs that involve a great deal of responsibility and their interest in them cannot end up being temporary.
- You must bear in mind that the pet will become a new member of the family and, as such, has specific needs. “That is why shelters always conduct an in-depth interview to analyse the adopter’s motivations and possibilities,” reveals Carmen Cabeza. Before taking the first step, you should assess whether as an owner you will be available 24/7.
- A pet can live for around 15 years, during which time its physical and emotional needs must be covered: walks, exercise, food, vaccinations, possible illnesses… Many of the reasons for abandonment are due to not being able to meet the financial costs involved in caring for a pet.
- To avoid future surprises, you should be well informed about the size and weight that the animal will reach in order to know if the environment you can offer it is necessary and adequate for its development. “It is important not to get carried away by the external appearance of the animal or its breed, but by its character, health and tastes”, advises l
Other caring options
Sensible and responsible adoption is a great opportunity for both the person and the animal. But if this is not possible, there are always other options for collaborating with animal shelters through financial donations, volunteering or support in publicising their work. One of the great (and unknown) needs of the shelters are foster homes, a fundamental link in socialising the dog, teaching it to live in a home, establishing routines or more complex care such as post-operative care, sterilisations, fostering puppies or very old animals. This option can be a good first adaptation before adoption.
So now you know, if this Christmas (or at any other time of the year) you are thinking of increasing your family with a new member, do not hesitate to get advice in the right place and with the right people: a shelter and its volunteers.
Rex Natural Range collaborates with Sonrisa Animal with regular donations of food for the dogs and cats of the shelter, as well as in various activities of dissemination and support to the association.