Giving pets as gifts

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (Mass Appeal) - You may have heard that the holidays are not the best time to give an animal as a gift, but Candy Lash, Director of Community & Media Relations at Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society tells you that it just may be the perfect time to give a furry friend a home!

There's lots of homeless animals looking for homes. When parents are looking to take a time, a special time to give an animal to their child, a parent knows when the right time is. For lots of reasons, the holidays may be just the perfect time. While there's a lot of composition and hustle and bustle, it's also a time when people take time off and they are home a lot.

So it's a great time to introduce a pet to the family.

Tiger lily, she is so beautiful. Her name is beautiful and so is she. Tiger lily is a 3-year-old domestic long-hair. We think sheehan mancoon in her as well. A well loved and well cared for cat. Due to family circumstances, she ended up with us. She is looking for a home. She has lived with other cats and she has no experience with dogs, but she has such an easy-going sweet demeanor, I think with the proper introduction she would be just fine. She's fine for a child. She's a lovely lap cat.

I think most parents giving a gift of an animal to their child, children very often, as they grow up, want an animal and a parent really knows when that time works for a child. That said, we certainly want to provide a little reminder to parents that no matter how capable the child, they always need guidance in how to care for a living being and how to handle a living being. We're certainly here to help provide that information for a parent as well. Neighbors and friends, probably not a good idea to give the gift of a pet. Even maybe for a parent, an adult, giving an older parent an animal. We probably recommend in those circumstances they come in and choose their own. But the great solution to that is we have gift certificates. We often say if you want to give the gift of an animal, give a gift certificate. Give a big basket filled with all the supplies that are needed to give that animal a great start. Of course, we give that animal a great start on our end as well.

You want to think about especially your lifestyle. What's going to work for you? If you are looking at a dog or looking at a cat or small animal, what's really the best option for you and how you live your life? Some people think a dog is a great idea. They can put the dog in the car and go. You want to decide if are looking at a dog, what type of a dog are you look for? What type of activity? If you are a couch potato, you probably don't want a Jack Russell terrier. Cats have different energy levels, different ages of cat bring different energy levels. What's a good fit for you? What's a good fit for your family?

Our dogs are $375. Including in that is about $400 worth of veterinarian services. Spay-neutering, microchip and it includes for our dogs a six-week training class.

Our kittens are $150 to adopt with all the same veterinary service that is come with that, with the exception of the training classes. Our adult cats, like my friend tiger lily, a year and older are fee-waived adoptions through the end of the month. Instead of asking for a set fee, we ask for a donation. Whatever the adopter fee and they are capable of donating and providing a great, loving home for the animal. It's a wonderful way to see some of our adult cats, which we have the most of, get home for the holiday.

171 Union Street
Springfield, Ma
(413) 781-4000

163 Montague Road
Leverett, Ma
(413) 548-9898

For more information, or if you want to adopt an animal from Dakin this holiday season, visit their website dpvhs.org .