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Holiday Pet Adoptions Holiday Pet Adoptions

By Noah Wolfe

DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON, HUNDREDS OF PETS ARE GIVEN AS GIFTS IN THE CENTRAL NEW YORK AREA, YET A FEW WEEKS LATER, THEY END UP BACK IN SHELTERS, RETURNED LIKE UNWANTED TOYS OR MISFITTED CLOTHES.

“I WISH I COULD HAVE PEOPLE UNDERSTAND THAT THESE ARE NOT GIFTS. THESE ARE LIVING, BREATHING THINGS, JUST LIKE A PERSON.”

THE S-P-C-A SAYS NEARLY HALF OF ALL ANIMALS ADOPTED DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON ARE BROUGHT BACK. SOME REASONS CITED FOR RETURNS ARE ALLERGIES, TIME COMMITMENT AND A LACK OF CONNECTION, BUT THE ROOT OF THE PROBLEM IS SIMPLE.

“NOT EVERYBODY LIKES CATS, NOT EVERYBODY LIKES DOGS. NOT EVERYBODY LIKES ANIMALS.”

THAT SAID, PROSPECTIVE PET OWNERS ARE NOT DETERRED. SYRACUSE RESIDENTS ALEX AND BRIANNA KNOW THAT BRINGING FIDO HOME IS A BIG DEAL.

“YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT ALL THE LOGISTICS BEFORE JUST GETTING A DOG. A PUPPY MIGHT BE ALL CUTE AND FUN AND ALL OF THAT, BUT IT’S MORE THAN JUST A PUPPY, IT’S A WHOLE LIFETIME COMMITMENT.

BY ADOPTING A PET, YOU CAN HELP ANIMALS LIKE CHICA FIND THEIR PERMANENT HOME. THAT SAID, THE S-P-C-A SAYS TO ONLY ADOPT IF YOU KNOW THAT YOU AND YOUR FAMILY CAN TAKE ON THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF HAVING A PET.

THE S-P-C-A AND OTHER LOCAL SHELTERS HAVE POLICIES IN PLACE TO ENSURE THE PETS THEY SEND TO HOMES DON’T COME BACK.

“WHEN YOU WANT TO ADOPT THAT ANIMAL, THE WHOLE FAMILY HAS TO COME IN TO MEET THAT ANIMAL.”

AND THE PROCEDURE WORKS TO SOME DEGREE.

“THEN THE ANIMAL MEETS THE WHOLE FAMILY, SO THEY KNOW HOW IT’S GONNA GET ALONG.”

AND THOUGH IT’S NOT A PERFECT PROCESS, IT HELPS PLACE PETS IN THE RIGHT HOMES. IN SYRACUSE, NOAH WOLFE, N-C-C NEWS.

There’s nothing like the feeling of tearing open gifts during the holiday season. Excitement, hope and wonder abound, as people experience the delight of giving and receiving. During the holiday season, pet adoptions experience a significant boost, according to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

However, in Central New York, nearly half of all pets adopted in December are returned to shelters, according to the SPCA of Central New York.

Marty scratches his post in the Central New York SPCA.
Marty scratches his post in the Central New York SPCA.
© 2018 Noah Wolfe

“Animals today are like novelty Christmas presents,” said Stephanie Heath-Higgins, founder and director of the local animal rescue group Cuse Pit Crew. “It’s all fun and cute to have a dog, but when it comes down to the real work, people don’t want to do it.”

To combat the issue, Heath-Higgins stressed that education is ultimately the solution that will curb unprepared families from adopting pets around the holidays.

“Education is at the core of the problem,” she said. “But shelters too need to be in tune with that.”

In Central New York, local groups including Cuse Pit Crew and the SPCA have launched several initiatives to teach children and their families about pet adoption. Lessons taught range from the needs of dogs to how to handle aggressive pets. The goal of the programs is to encourage adoption, but also give families the tools to provide good care to their pets throughout their lives.

“People just need to really consider if their life is set up for the next 10-12 years,” said Heath-Higgins. “Then they’ll know if they’re capable of taking in an animal.”

For those looking to adopt during the holiday season, the local SPCA has outlined several guidelines.

“There’s actually no worse time to bring a pet home than Christmas morning,” said Dee Schafer, the humane educator at the SPCA.

Instead, Schafer suggests that families bring home their pets before or after the holiday season to give the animals enough time to adjust to their surroundings in a low pressure setting.

“It’s incredibly scary for them,” she said. “We want to make the transition as easy as possible.”

The SPCA also enforces a policy where all family members must meet the pet to see how it gets along with everyone. With some better knowledge of their prospective new pet, Schafer had some poignant advice for families looking to bring home an animal this holiday season.

“Adopt,” said Schafer. “We’ve received over 200 animals in the past month so adopt, don’t shop.”

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