By Barbara Morris
This column recently suggested that great care should be given in selecting appropriate gifts — especially for children, This is a very special problem when a pet is to be gifted.
Just because a child wants a pet, it does not necessarily follow that the wish should be granted immediately. A pet is not a toy. If a child is too young, or too insensitive to the feelings of other living things, it would neither be fair to the child nor to some pet to try to establish any kind of compatible relationship between them.
Animals require an investment and commitment — not only initially but for their lifetime. They require a proper diet, periodic visits to a veterinarian, appropriate training and grooming, and a clean, safe place to sleep, play and stay. Give all that, it will become one of the most loving members of the family.
Selection, therefore, is a paramount consideration, especially if the pet choice is to be a canine. Every young animal has charm and is cute. Some little pups grow into big or bigger animals. The latter will probably have a voracious appetite (or so it may seem to you when the food bills have to be paid). If not properly trained, they may become too overwhelming.
Some years ago, our family vacationed at a lakefront resort where the owners chained a St. Bernard during the day and let him loose at night. We discovered that very early one morning when my mother and I made our way through a very misty dawn to our canoe, bound for a promised bountiful fishing hole. As I paddled, I could hear a splashing noise coming toward us. Before I could do much about it, I saw the huge head of that white and brown St. Barnard bobbing up and down as he swam toward us.
He made an attempt to board, almost dumping us both into the lake. Since my mother didn’t swim, I was reluctant to chance the reaction of that huge beast even though we had life preservers. Since I feared we might be forced into the water with him, I paddled “full steam ahead” toward shore.
Once there, I began to play with our soggy friend in an attempt to give my mother an opportunity to get back into our cottage safely. Once she was safe, I attempted to follow her. By that time, however, my furry friend decided we hadn’t finished our game. As I tried to open the outer door, he jumped at my shoulders, slamming me on both the door and the cottage wall so that the door couldn’t be opened.
I told my mother I would yell “Now,” at which time I would shove the dog away as hard as I could and she should try to push the door pen. The idea worked, but once inside, we were stuck there until the owner came to claim his watchdog because that big bruiser stayed on that porch, wagging his tail, crying, and inviting us to finish our play.
I love animals, but he was just too much for me to handle. The American Kennel Club has an excellent breed reference book that might help you. It gives details of temperament, size, characteristics and history of breeds registered with them. The book is generally available in libraries, bookstores and directly from that organization. It also contains pictures.
Pet shops and breeders are not, of course, the only sources where good pets may be found. Pet rescue organizations may be as good, or even better. Some of those animals may have been lost from loving families or dumped by some irresponsible individual. They will have endured confusion, a sense of loss, and maybe rejection and danger. A good, loving home would certainly be well received.
As far as kittens and cats, they are not cold and indifferent and, in fact, can be very loving on their own terms. Unlike dogs, (at least the large breeds of dogs), they don’t need to be walked and, in fact, benefit from being stay-at-homes. They have special needs, however, if carpets and furniture are to be spared because they have a daily need to sharpen their claws on something if they are not properly “manicured.”
Having claws surgically removed should not be an option since it is extremely painful, leaves the cat with no defense and often changes its personality. Please love your pets, keep them as part of your family and we’ll all have a Happy New Year.
