Buyer’s regret is common all year, but especially at Christmas. As such, as the festive season approaches, Roscommon SPCA are appealing to everyone to please refrain from giving or acquiring animals as gifts. Like the renowned slogan rightly says: an animal is for life, not just for Christmas. Pets do not have gift receipts.
Unfortunately, it is all too easy to underestimate the time, energy and money required to properly care for our furry friends long-term. To forget that they chew, need patient toilet-training, and grow much larger than their original cute puppy or kitten phase. The festive season is entirely unsuitable for integrating a new fur baby – manic as it is in all households.
The Roscommon SPCA invariably end up trying to cope with a post-Christmas wave of abandoned and surrendered pets, which is hugely upsetting. As a non-funded organisation entirely dependent on a core group of dedicated volunteers, this also stretches the team to their limit.
The Roscommon SPCA do not have their own premises so trying to source new homes is a difficult, costly, and emotionally draining endeavour.
The Roscommon SPCA have a range of beautiful animals crying out for adoption throughout the year. So please – press pause (or ‘paws’) this Christmas to weigh up all the commitment required to being a responsible pet owner.
