Purr-fect gift?

This month's Christmas present

could be next month's shelter resident

December 18, 2005

DAWN DE BUSK/Frontiersman reporter

MAT-SU - The Cat Who Came for Christmas may be a heart-warming story of a &#8220self-described curmudgeon” who discovers a valuable companion in the cat he saves from a snowbound alley in New York City. The book by Cleveland Amory comes complete with a happy ending, but many dogs and cat who surprise and delight children on Christmas day don't work out as neatly as in the popular story.

&#8220We do definitely see an increase after Christmas of people that get pets for their kids, and then they find out it's not a good fit and they end up here in the shelter,” according to Dave Allison, chief control officer with the Mat-Su Animal Shelter.

Getting a pet should be a commitment the whole family makes, Allison said. And shelter assistant Fizz Leopold added that a little information about what that commitment entails goes a long way.

&#8220People give pets to toddlers on up to teens expecting the children to be responsible for the pet instead of having the common knowledge that kids can't always take care of animals by themselves,” Leopold said. &#8220Maybe the parents haven't prepared by researching about the animal, they haven't passed on pet-care skills to the child before giving them the pet.

&#8220It takes education and it takes training to raise a dog, just like potty training a child. It takes time,” she said.

Not putting in that time can have consequences.

&#8220If you don't spend time with the animal, it can become unruly and out of control, and then no one wants it around,” Leopold said, adding that that is just the scenario that lands many canines in the shelter.

A person doesn't have to spend big bucks by sending their dog to obedience school or enrolling the canine in a training class. Family members can buy or check out at the library a book on basic training, and engage in teaching the puppy obedience themselves, Leopold said.

In addition, people should research the breeds to see which one is most reliable around children or which one is best suited for the family's lifestyle.

&#8220You don't want a German shepherd if you run 10 or 12 miles daily. Then, you'd want an Australian shepherd,” Leopold said.

If a family wants an indoor cat, remember that includes the task of cleaning out the litter box.

&#8220If you don't clean the litter box, they'll use other parts of the house,” she said.

Parents who are unsure of the family's ability to put in the time on pet care might want to consider fish. Jillian Whitley, who works at Pet Zoo in Wasilla, said fish are a good starter pet.

&#8220We've had some parents come in for their 7-year-old. Fish are easy to take care of, and it's a good pet to start with,” she said. &#8220It teaches the child responsibility, like how to feed them every day.”

A fish in a small bowl usually needs the water changed once a week or so, she said.

Here are some tips for making the decision on what kind of pet to get:

€ Research: Get online

and find out the breed's personality.

€ When adopting a pet from an animal shelter, first spend time with the kids and pet in the family room. Not just for 10 minutes, but for 30 minutes or so.

€ Assign a rotation of chores involved in the care of the animal so one person isn't left doing it all.

€ Buy a book or check out a book from the library on basic obedience or basic care of that type of animal.

€ Be ready not only to admit that it could be time-consuming, but be prepared to commit that time as a family.

If a person values taking care of an animal already, then it might be a good skill be teach to young children, but don't make a child solely responsible for the pet, Leopold said.

Contact Dawn De Busk at 352-2252, or dawn.debusk@ frontiersman.com.