Filed under: Dogs

Giving any pet as a gift on any occasion is almost always a bad idea. While puppies are perennially popular impulse holiday gifts, a puppy or adopted older dog is a lifetime commitment and should not be entered into lightly. That cute puppy under the tree on December 25 is a big headache by the end of January for an impulsive gift-getter. Even for experienced and prepared potential pet owners, the holidays are the absolute worst time of year to adopt a new dog. No matter what your best intentions, a puppy will get lost in the shuffle of holiday festivities. Also, the winter weather and early darkness is not conducive to acquainting your dog with the outdoors.

But just because you aren't going to have a new dog wearing a holiday gift bow on its chest doesn't mean the holidays need to be dog-free! Use the charitable season as an opportunity to help homeless dogs this year. There are thousands of worthy local organizations for dogs in addition to the national ones we all know about. Do a little research and find a local group that could use assistance during the holidays. Here are some great suggestions of how you can get your "dog fix" by helping the ones that need it most:

- Volunteer at your local shelter over the holidays. Call and find out what you need to do to become a volunteer and what is needed most at this time of year.

- Donate to an organization such as Sunny Days Rescue Relief. This organization provides money and supplies to shelters in need.

Continue reading Pets as Presents - No Dogs Under the Tree!

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