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A FRIENDLY CANINE or a furry feline is a core part of many family homes, assisting little ones on their adventures and bringing the whole house together.

At this time of year, with Santa on the way and Christmas present chatter happening non-stop, it’s natural that the topic of a new dog or cat might come up. After all, if your child (or you) has been dreaming of a pet, surely December 25 is as good a time as any to fulfill that wish?

According to the DSPCA, in many cases the Christmas excitement of getting a new dog or cat can soon dissipate, leaving bored children, fed-up parents and – ultimately – abandoned or homeless animals.

By early December of this year, the DSPCA was already inundated with unwanted pets. The animal protection organisation revealed that had received rehome requests for 25 dogs and 20 cats in one week, calling the figures for this year ‘worrying .’

Excuses given for giving up animals included ‘biting the children’, ‘unwilling to work on training’, allergies, the size of the animal and even replacing a ‘bold’ older dog with a puppy.

The DSPCA wants to remind people that their pet is a member of the family and “not a disposable item.”

So, tell us, would you get your kids a pet for Christmas?

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