Think twice about getting a pet for Christmas, shelter workers say.
"That is the worst time of the year," to introduce a new four-legged member to your family, said Barb Umlauf, Hillside SPCA director.
With the hectic time of the holidays, the animal could get forgotten about or not given enough attention, she said Thursday.
Pet ownership has its benefits but also has its responsibilities, she said.
"It should be a lifetime commitment and it has to be a family decision," Umlauf said.
Prospective pet owners need to consider if they can financially care for the pet, get one that suits their lifestyle and other needs.
"You take your kids to the pediatrician. You have to take your pets to the vet," said Lindsay Cohan, an Hillside employee. She was holding Scooby, a miniature pinscher who was found as a stray in Tower City.
Umlauf and Cohan agreed that spaying or neutering is also a responsible thing to get done for your pet.
Too often animals are given as gifts and then returned or given to a shelter because the owners did not realize all that was involved with the pet, they said.
If you buy a pet and don't adopt from a shelter, do your research and chose a responsible breeder, they said.
Samson, a Brittany, was one of the lucky ones. He was adopted by a family from Halifax, Dauphin County, after being dropped off by a dog officer. Samson was found wondering around Halifax and his picture was posted on Facebook. Adam and Tricia Farmer called the state police and then took him to their house. A dog warden then had to get him as required by law and dropped him off at Hillside at their request. The 6-year-old dog waited at Hillside for the required 48 hours and then found his new home. Samson had a microchip but it was not registered.
The dog sat in the backseat of the Farmers' car waiting for his new life.
Tricia said finding Samson was "just meant to be. It's good timing."
Becki Moyer, cat room manager at Hillside, agreed with Umlauf that Christmas is not a good time to get an animal because it's "too hectic."
The pet would need time to adjust to the new surroundings, she said.
Dr. John Broshkevitch, chief of staff at Mountain Shadow Veterinary Hospital, Schuylkill Haven, said prospective pet owners should consider all the responsibilities.
He said there is a good question to think about before getting an animal - "Does everybody realize the implications of owning pets?"
One example might be to puppy-proof or kitten-proof a home, he said. For example, if a new puppy is introduced, he might chew on wires on lights for the tree, resulting in the animal being injured. Decorations on the tree might catch the attention of cats and have consequences. Cats sometimes eat tinsel, he said.
Bridget Barder, assistant manager at Ruth Steinert Memorial SPCA, said it's important to "make sure it's a good fit first" before getting a new pet. Animals will grow and sometimes people forget that, she said.