Among items to tempt shoppers between now and Christmas are inviting displays in pet stores. A Spencer veterinarian says you should think carefully about getting a pet as a present, however. Doctor Wendy Rees says it’s a big commitment to get a dog or cat. She says there’s no particularly good or bad time to get a pet, it depends on how much thought you put into it. While anytime can be good or bad, there are issues around the holiday you should consider. Dr Rees says the people who’ll care for that pet have a lot of obligations, including housebreaking it during the winter months. Around Christmastime in Iowa it’s cold and snowy. A puppy will have to go out often, every hour or two even during the night at first. Keep in mind whether you’re going to want to get up that often to let your puppy out. Advertisers may create an attractive image of a family getting a pet for Christmas. Parents picture “this magical moment of Christmas,” she says, where kids see the pet and their faces light up — but the vet says you have to remember that you’ll have a longterm obligation to care for the animal and “you’ve bought yourself into a lifetime commitment.” Rees wants owners to consider their commitment to a pet…no matter what time of year you choose to get one.
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