Many pets given as gifts are ignored in the months after Christmas, only to be returned later.
SHREVEPORT, Louisiana – Animal shelters frequently observe an upsurge in the number of pets returned after Christmas. People will take a pet home with them, but they will quickly discover that they have taken on more responsibility than they bargained for
PetSavers, a Shreveport animal shelter, director Linda Shemwell said they are more leery of potential adoptees during the holidays. They've seen far too many individuals adopt a pet as a gift and then return it after a short period of time.
According to Shemwell, a couple recently adopted a puppy but promptly mistreated it. The dog's health was reported to PetSavers by neighbors, but the pair declined assistance. The dog had to be put down after only a month.
PetSavers requires all adoptees to fill out an application in order to avoid such incidents. They must show that they have access to a veterinarian and that the dog will be secure in their household. People are also discouraged from giving animals as gifts, according to PetSavers.
Anyone interested in adopting a dog or cat can fill out an application at petsavershreveport.org
