THE BATTLEFORDS — With Christmas coming up some gift-givers might consider the idea of giving animals from a shelter as a Christmas gift, but the Battlefords Humane Society is urging people to be careful.
According to Michelle Spark, shelter manager, while they would never discourage people from adopting pets at Christmas, they caution that having a pet is a long-term commitment of 10-15 years.
“It’s not just a Christmas present where you can trade it off in a few years,” said Spark. “We don’t want those animals returned back to us. We want them to be in their ‘forever’ homes.”
What might be easier for people who are considering Christmas gift ideas might be pet food, or perhaps sponsoring an adoption for someone who is ready to have a pet where the adoption fee would be paid for. Or they could sponsor spay and neuter fees that are also paid for.
Another gift item is paw prints. Spark said paw prints are available for sale at the shelter, with all of the proceeds going to their capital campaign.
“There’s lots of ways people can contribute or buy somebody a Christmas present, and still help the shelter out without necessarily adopting an animal,” said Spark.
You can give a cat a nice Christmas, however, The animal shelter currently has an over-supply of cats and there is a big need for people interested in fostering cats. Anyone interested can go to their website at battlefordshumanesociety.com, fill out an application and contact the shelter.
