Many people have dogs in Hong Kong, and you might also be feeling pressure from someone in the family to get a dog, cat or other kind of pet for Christmas. Not quite sure about it? Here, DR PAULINE TAYLOR of Pets Central answers what is a common question about pet ownership.
“Should I get my family a pet for Christmas this year? What are the key things I need to consider?”
Getting a pet for Christmas was once considered a bad idea. This was to stop either impulse pet buying or adoption that used to lead – it was thought – to an increased “post-holiday” rate of pet returns to welfare groups or shelters, or simply to pets being abandoned. The theory was that as the holiday spirit wears off and life goes back to normal, the pet becomes more work and more expense when the credit cards are already full. Also, the magic of having one in the home wears off with the daily drudge of taking them for walks, cleaning their feet, washing their bowls, playing with them and so on, when there are already many other things to do as well as go to work!
However, studies done in California show that pets adopted around the holidays actually have the lowest rate of return to animal shelters! With this in mind, if you’re considering getting a four-legged addition of a pet to your family, some basic things need to be considered. They are:
#1 “Do I have enough time for a pet in my day to-day life?”
Pets need to be walked. They need exercise. They need playtime, bath time, feeding, hair combing time and so on. And they need this for their entire life. This could be 10 to 20 years or even more with some non-hairy pets such as reptiles or birds.
#2 “Can I afford a pet?”
Expenses include food, regular vaccinations and parasite prevention, and other unforeseen medical bills.
If the answers are yes to these two simple questions, then I would advise you to go ahead and rescue a pet for Christmas. There are many homeless animals waiting to be adopted. Choose carefully to suit your family and your lifestyle and the rewards can be plentiful. Not only will you get the satisfaction of knowing you have helped a pet find a loving home, you will get a lifelong companion that will become one of your best friends.
About Dr Pauline Taylor (BVM&S MACVSc)
After graduating from Edinburgh University, Dr Taylor began practicing in Scotland, working with farm animals. She has accrued over 30 years of experience in caring for animals in various places. This includes the UK, New Zealand and Hong Kong.
Pets Central operates multiple Animal Clinics and Hospitals for the care of your dogs and cats in Hong Kong:
North Point Hospital | 2811 8907
Mong Kok Hospital | 2309 2139
Tseung Kwan O Hospital | 2244 6684
Sai Kung Hospital | 2792 0833
Park Island Mobile Clinic | 6223 0903
Liked this? To catch up on a discussion with Dr Pauline Taylor on dogs’ habits and which toys are best for dog owners to buy, head here!
Find more tips about cats and dogs in our Living in Hong Kong section. This article first appeared in Expat Living magazine; subscribe now so you never miss an issue.
