Twin Falls Animal Shelter Gives Tips Before You Gift A Pet

Gifting a pet this holiday season can sound like a fantastic idea. Puppies, kittens, hamsters, ferrets, whatever, sounds like a super happy Christmas morning to me. However, before you decide to gift a pet this Christmas, there are a few things you need to consider.

Gifting a Pet Really Shouldn't Be a Surprise All The Time

If you are planning on gifting a pet to someone, you really should make sure that they are aware and capable of keeping that pet. If a person has said they want a puppy for Christmas you need to make sure you know apartment regulations, capability to care, even financial situations should be considered. If they aren't prepared for the surprise it can backfire easily.

Make Sure You Know The Breed And Your Audience

If you are gifting a pet to someone make sure you know the type of pet you are getting. If someone is living in a one-bedroom 500 square foot apartment, a Great Dane may not be the best idea. If a person is allergic to cats, a Siamese kitten is probably not a great idea. Know your audience, know the breed and consider it all.

If It Is For Your Children Or Spouse, Know It Is A Long Term Commitment

Kittens and puppies are probably the most adorable thing on the planet. However, they turn into cats and dogs, also the most adorable things on the planet. Not everyone is ready for the puppy stages or the litter training phases. These are long-term commitments that require work, love, training, and patience. But it is all worth it in the end.

Before you gift, make sure you have all the information you need to make sure it is the right fit and no one is going to be put in a tough spot of what to do with the pet now.

RANKED: Here Are the 63 Smartest Dog Breeds

Does your loyal pup's breed make the list? Read on to see if you'll be bragging to the neighbors about your dog's intellectual prowess the next time you take your fur baby out for a walk. Don't worry: Even if your dog's breed doesn't land on the list, that doesn't mean he's not a good boy--some traits simply can't be measured.

Why do cats have whiskers? Why do they meow? Why do they nap so much? And answers to 47 other kitty questions:

Why do they meow? Why do they nap so much? Why do they have whiskers? Cats, and their undeniably adorable babies known as kittens, are mysterious creatures. Their larger relatives, after all, are some of the most mystical and lethal animals on the planet. Many questions related to domestic felines, however, have perfectly logical answers. Here’s a look at some of the most common questions related to kittens and cats, and the answers cat lovers are looking for.