A change in policy means the Edmonton Humane Society (EHS) is now encouraging people to give pets as gifts at any time of the year, including Christmas.
This reversal comes after the society’s officials examined a study from the National Council on Pet Population that evaluated the main reasons why people surrender animals to animal shelters. The report announced that pets given as gifts were more likely to be successfully integrated as permanent pets, despite long-held beliefs.
“The reason of not wanting a surprise gift and not working that out never showed up on the radar,” explained Shawna Randolph, the society’s spokesperson. “That study did conclude that a pet given as a gift was more likely to actually stay in the household and less likely that it would be surrendered.”
She added that the EHS has been conferring with other humane societies for their policies, as well as looking at its own statistics on surrendered pets, animals given up for adoption by their owners.
“It is so rare for someone to return an animal that was given to them as a surprise gift, and the reason why is … that there’s so much sentimental value placed on an animal that is given as a gift.”
“That’s not the only reason,” she continued. “This is something that we’ve been considering for the last couple of years, just seeing how trends change. In the past it was just a blanket thought that you should never give a pet as a gift no matter what. Doing the discussion and the research and looking at this study, we are actually putting up roadblocks against some adoptions.”
The EHS often re-evaluates its policies to maximize the opportunities for bringing adoptable animals and adopting humans together. The society has a return policy in case a new pet doesn’t work out for one reason or another.
A viable alternative is to give a gift certificate that would allow the recipient the freedom and time to make their own pet decision.
All cats and dogs come with a multitude of extras included in the cost of adoption. This includes spay or neuter surgery, first vaccines, complimentary veterinary exam, FIV/FeLV testing for all cats/kittens and de-worming (if under six months of age), microchip ID, free cat carrying box, adoption info kit, low-cost dog training classes, six weeks of free pet insurance, a health exam, ID tags and a training DVD.
Another new shift in the society’s operations is offering a delivery service for newly adopted pets on Christmas Day. Dubbed the Santa Paws Adopted Animal Delivery Program, society staff and volunteers will be delivering a maximum of 20 animals on Christmas Day, provided the animals have gone through the adoption process. The service is available in St. Albert and costs $50.
The society is open from noon until 5 p.m. today. It is located at 13620 163 Street in Edmonton.
Call 780-471-1774 or visit www.edmontonhumanesociety.com for more information.
