At the Naperville Area Humane Society there are plenty of furry friends waiting for their forever homes.
But as the holidays draw near the humane society wants to make sure you remember, pets are not always the best gifts.
“Unless you know absolutely sure, 100 percent confidence what that person is looking for and if they’re actually ready for a pet, it may not be the best idea for you to be the one giving them,” said Anna Payton, executive director of the Naperville Area Humane Society.
While you might like the look of joy when a loved one receives their new pet, animals can be a lot of work and responsibility lasting far beyond the holidays.
“Animals are a big commitment. Depending on what type of animal you get, they might have that animal for the next 15 to 20 years,” Payton said.
But she said if you’ve done your research, you don’t have to cross pets off the wish list.
“The gift of love is always a great idea,” Payton said.
If you’re prepared, the holidays can actually be an ideal time to bring home a new furry family member.
“We have more people are coming during the holidays a lot of times because they are actually home,” Payton said. “You know, kids are home from school. More people take time off work, so you have that extra time to really acclimate the pet.”
If you want to add a pet to your family, Humane Society leaders say they’re happy to visit with anyone thinking about adopting.
Naperville News 17’s Beth Bria reports.
