Returning Rover? Christmas pets can be ruff but help is out there
Winnipeg Humane Society has already received one puppy who was an unwanted Christmas present
After unwrapping meowing or barking boxes for the holidays, some families might be re-thinking their newest members.
The Winnipeg Humane Society (WHS) has already received one puppy who was an unwanted Christmas present.
Fortunately, however, that's not the general trend, according to Erika Anseeuw, the director of animal health at the WHS.
"I've seen it on Facebook a lot that people are posting, 'This is the time of year shelters are getting animals the month after Christmas,'" she said.
"But in my experience, 15 years with the [Winnipeg] Humane Society, I don't think that's a big trend."
Anseeuw said there are many reasons why some people surrender an animal. Christmas and birthdays are busy times, and getting a pet out of the blue might not be the best idea.
Ask for help
But if new pet owners feel lost, Anseeuw said going online for advice or calling a local shelter for tips should be step number one. And sometimes, what seems unnatural is actually instinctual.
"Scratching behaviour in cats is normal behaviour, so the key is to give them something they like to scratch more than they like the things they're not supposed to scratch," Anseeuw said.
She said there are three things to keep in mind for a scratching post:
- Keep it in a location the cat goes to.
- Keep it tall, since cats like to stretch out.
- Make sure the material is something the animal actually likes.
"What we did when we were kids was, when the cats destroyed the upholstered furniture, we just took that fabric and put it on the scratching post," she said. "They were thrilled."
Talk about it first
And when it comes to dogs, Anseeuw's advice is simple: stay in school.
"Even if you've had a dog all your life, going to a structured obedience class is useful for the dog because it helps them learn in a distracting environment," she said.
If a family does decide to surrender an animal, Anseeuw said people shouldn't feel guilty and others shouldn't chastise people who decide to go that route.
But before a new furry friend comes into a family, there should be more discussion than the word "surprise!"
Sometimes pets as presents are a great idea, but it's an idea that should come at the conclusion of a lot of discussion with that person, she said.