The Wyvern's Lair : Odds & Ends : Herps as Gifts


Herps as Gifts

No matter what holiday or special occasion it is, please make the effort to remind people that it is not the best idea to make a gift of living animals, especially to children.

Every year many animals from dogs, cats, birds, and small exotic furry critters to amphibians and scaly reptiles are given to people as presents. Often many of those who receive these animals do not know how to properly care for the animal in question. Many times these animals are given to people with short attention spans. The new owners get bored with the animal and then give them to someone else or dump them on the already overburdened humane societies, shelters, and rescues. A good percentage of these animals may wind up dying for lack of proper care or put to death because they could not be placed in a suitable home.

Animals are not disposable toys. They are living, breathing, feeling creatures. You do not throw them away when you get bored with them, when they start chewing on the furniture or when you cannot get them to do what you want. Pets of any type are a lifelong commitment and a responsibility you take on when you choose to bring one home with you.

It is not a good idea to 'surprise' someone with a living animal that they are not prepared to receive or care for properly. Restrain your impulse to give someone a living animal as a gift. Not everyone is up to such an undertaking of responsibility. Not everyone will appreciate the thought least of all the animal itself. To be fair to the person, let them know ahead of time what your intentions are and then give them the option to decline your offer.

When it has been determined that a new pet for someone is both acceptable and welcomed, please try to wait until after the rush, fuss and noise of the holiday (or special occasion) has passed before bringing the animal home. If it can be arranged, try to make plans to adopt a companion animal from a rescue organization that is in need of a 'forever' home rather than purchase one from a pet store.

To help offset some of that waiting time, you can plan and even encourage others to partake of the following in lieu of a live animal that will better help them prepare for a new pet:

  • Give books about the animal.
  • Give a magazine subscription that has articles on the type of animal someone is interested in (some magazines discount their subscriptions during the winter holiday season).
  • Give a stuffed animal or other related toy.
  • Give a video that talks about the animal.
  • Give a year's membership in a local society or club pertaining to that type of animal.
  • Give a gift certificate that can be used towards the future purchase of equipment or supplies for an animal that someone is interested in getting.

    The anticipation of the extra waiting time, while frustrating and seemingly unbearable, will make the effort worthwhile in the end for everyone.



    • Offsite Articles of Potential Interest

  • Anapsid.org: Reptiles are not 'things'
  • Anapsid.org: The Grim Reality: Unwanted Reptiles
  • Anapsid.org: Vacations & Your Reptiles



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