ROANOKE, Va. – It is the season of gift giving, and for some people, that means giving the gift of pets.
“It is a great time of year to adopt a pet because a lot of folks have extra time off, and then extra time off can really help with potty training a dog or socializing with the animals, cats especially, and just giving them time to adjust to their home,” said CEO Denise Hayes with Roanoke Valley SPCA.
Hayes even said that at the Roanoke Valley SPCA, where they see around 100 adoptions each month, there are a lot of pet adoptions at this time of year.
If you are considering adopting a furry best friend, a curious feline, or any other pet, Hayes wants you to keep some things in mind.
Something to consider is your lifestyle.
“It’s really important to think about what’s happening in your house in the next couple of weeks. Some of us have a more quiet holiday that’s a little bit more laid back. Others may have large families that are coming over, and not all pets are going to do well in a really loud, chaotic environment. So, it’s really important to think about what works for your specific family, and then think about what the pet needs that would be coming into your home,” said Hayes.
She said the Roanoke Valley of the SPCA can help you decide on what pet to get.
“[We can] answer questions for them, talk to them about what may be some specific pets that meet their family’s needs. Some of us are more hang out for the holidays and binge-watch all the Christmas movies, but others are out running the Jingle Bell Run on Christmas morning, and different pets fit differently into each of those lifestyles, and we’re happy to help folks make those decisions for them,” said Hayes.
Hayes said she doesn’t see a lot of pets being returned during the holiday season. However, a huge mistake she sees people make is impulse adoption.
She also said if you’re looking to gift someone a pet, consider giving them a gift certificate for the shelter.
Hayes said the holidays can be a busy time for them, and this year is especially strenuous because the Roanoke Valley SPCA is getting ready to have its HVAC and roof replaced. So, all pets need to either be adopted or in a foster home until January. If you’re thinking about fostering, they provide all the supplies you’ll need.
Meanwhile, it’s winter, and you might be thinking of ways to keep your pet safe.
She said after walking your pets outside, wipe their paws off because the ground could have de-icer melt.
If it’s really cold out, you can buy little booties for your pets.
Hayes said it’s important to make sure your home is safe too. She said to be careful of gifts under your Christmas tree.
“If it was a box of chocolate or some other homemade goodie, a lot of those things aren’t safe for pets to consume, but they can smell them through that wrapping paper, and they will often eat them. Tinsel on trees is also something that’s very harmful,” said Hayes.
It’s also important to think about any cords or lights around your Christmas tree.
Even if you have company over, some people may not be accustomed to the types of pets that you have. So, you may need to put them up to keep them safe.
Finally, she said to be careful of the types of treats you might want to feed your pet. Raisins, chocolate and any kind of sweets could be bad for them.
“The other thing that we’ve heard stories of are folks who’ve left turkeys out, have had a turkey and then the dog has eaten the turkey or gotten the turkey out of the trash. Poultry bones are very harmful because they’re not solid. So, they can actually splinter and puncture the intestines and the stomachs of pets,” said Hayes.