This Easter, just stick to candy

Every Easter, pet stores send countless parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles home with that “perfect” Easter gift for the little ones: a chick, a duckling, a bunny, or maybe even a kitten or puppy. They’re awfully cute, and they get the “aww” factor going full-steam. But before you buy an Easter pet this year, think about this: a few weeks after Easter, most of those pets are abandoned, surrendered to humane societies, or worst of all, have died. Many pets purchased as gifts don’t get the care they need before or after purchase, or are just more of a commitment than the buyer realizes - do you know what goes into raising a healthy, tame duck? Because I don't, if we're being perfectly honest.

If you’re considering bringing home a pet for Easter (or any other day, for that matter), don’t just think about the present; think about the future, too. Do you know the nutritional, grooming, and attention requirements of a rabbit? Do you have the space and set-up to house an adult chicken? How about the cost involved in raising any animal? The ASPCA estimates that it costs $700 to $875 to provide the most basic care for a dog or cat for one year. And, if you bring home something like a duckling, that is going to grow up into a wild animal, and you find that you can't care for it after all...what the heck do you do with it? Most humane societies aren't going to be able to take on wildlife, and a hand-raised duck will have trouble surviving in the wild.

What it boils down to is this: If you’re not prepared to make the full commitment to a pet, it’s best not to bring one home at all. Don't fall victim to rampant adorability unless you're 100% ready for years of expense and effort. Visit a local rescue instead and share a little love with some pets in need! You can enjoy all of the fun aspects of spending time with a pet without taking on all of the responsibility, and you’ll make a homeless pet’s day a little brighter, too. We have plenty of homeless pets who would love a little of your love, and we even have a bunny you can play with.

If you are ready to become a pet owner this Easter, it’s a better idea to adopt from a humane society or shelter than to purchase a pet from a pet store. First of all, when you adopt you’re getting a pet that has already had basic veterinary care and is in good health; you get no such guarantee from a pet store. Secondly, you’re saving a pet that needs a home without encouraging irresponsible breeders or puppy mills to keep doing business at the expense of the animals. Puppies and kittens start showing up in big numbers at most adoption facilities in April, so there are almost always plenty of options available. And finally, when you adopt, a big chunk of that $700 to $875 total is already taken care of: most rescues provide vaccines, spay or neuter surgeries, microchips, and other essential veterinary care. When you adopt you can feel pretty darn good about yourself, and save a big chunk of change at the same time.

Whether you decide to spend your Easter with candy or a new four-legged friend this year, the important thing is to be prepared and make the best decision…not just for you, but for the pet. If you’re not ready for a pet this spring, well, there’s always next year! Or next month, or this summer...you get the idea. Until then, enjoy an abundance of chocolate and jelly beans, and we hope you’ll come visit our pets at the Woodford Humane Society to make their holiday weekend a little brighter.