Yes, absolutely. And No, absolutely not.
How's that for a definitive answer?
The real answer is this: Giving a puppy to someone who really wants one is a fine idea, but you should not give the puppy as a surprise, nor should you give it during the hubub of opening gifts.
The best plan is to give a stuffed puppy, with a gift certificate for the real thing attached to its collar.
For one thing, choosing a puppy isn't really something you can do for someone else. No one knows what invisible energy passes between human and dog that makes them both think "You're for me!" but there definitely is a "something" that shouldn't be ignored. Therefore, your gift recipient should be the one to do the choosing.
Second, the time to introduce that pup to his or her new home is when things are calm and quiet. Definitely not when people are rushing around, laughing, talking, tearing gifts open, eating, etc.
Think how you'd feel if you were suddenly thrust into a room full of people acting like goofs. And think how you'd feel if hoards of them descended on you- grabbing, poking, petting, and sticking their faces into yours to say "Oh, aren't you just the cutest thing!"
Talk about terrifying!
If your gift recipient has definitely decided on a favored breed, and if you've been able to locate a reputable breeder, arrange a time to take him or her to view the puppies and make a choice.
If the goal is a puppy - any puppy - then find out which shelters have pups and arrange a time to go see them.
Whatever you do, don't buy a puppy from someone parked alongside the road - or from a pet store. Those puppies come from puppy mills and there are very good reasons not to buy them.
First, they are usually unhealthy - which means you could lose that new pup within a matter of weeks.
Second, every time you buy a puppy mill pup you encourage those sub-human creatures to breed more. And the parent dogs are suffering horribly to produce those cuddly bundles of fur.
I know it's tempting to take one - just to save it from going back into an overcrowded, filthy kennel at a puppy mill. But don't do it. They'll just produce ten more to take its place.
Definitely give a dog lover a puppy - but do it in the best way for the puppy.
Merry Christmas season...
1 comment:
You're so right Marte--the "gift certificate" is the best idea, especially if someone has never had a puppy before and do not realize the responsibility. I also recall all the Dalmatians that were bought after the movie came out and people returned them because they were not educated on the needs and hyperactivity of dalmatian. People need to read up on different dogs, the possible health issues for specific breeds and their temperament to ensure it's the right dog for them and let them choose the puppy themselves. When I picked up my maltese at the Humane Society --we bonded instantly. It was truly love at first sight and touch. CHRISTINE http://aboutchristinemichaels.blogspot.com
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