Reader’s Blog: An animal is not a gift to be wrapped

Christmas may be “the most wonderful time of the year”, but it isn’t a wonderful time to add a new dog, cat, or other animal to the family. Resist the temptation to give a living, breathing being as a gift.

Animals require time, attention, patience, and money — all of which are scarce during this season.

Adopting cats or dogs means making at least a 15-year commitment to love and care for them unconditionally. It also means finding a pet that is a good match for a family’s activities and personalities. These aren’t decisions you can make for someone else.