Position Statement on Pets as Gifts

Background
Americans have a long tradition of giving a pet, usually a puppy or a kitten, as a gift for a special occasion such as a birthday, Christmas or graduation. Children are most often the recipients of a gift pet, but people of all ages receive dogs, cats and other animal companions as gifts under many different circumstances.

To acquire a companion animal as a gift appears to contradict accepted wisdom about the importance of the potential guardian selecting a pet that closely matches his expectations and lifestyle, as well as entering the relationship with a solid sense of commitment to providing a life-long home for the animal. Nevertheless, many responsible pet lovers can trace their very first companion animal to a puppy or kitten received as a gift when they were children. As a result, there appears to be no simple answer to the question of whether or not it’s wise to give a pet as a gift.

ASPCA Position
The ASPCA does not recommend giving a pet as a gift to a person who has not exhibited a sustained interest in an animal or is not fully capable of meeting all of the needs of the animal. If the recipient of the pet is a child under 12, the child’s parents must be ready and eager to assume care for the animal. In all cases, the ASPCA recommends consulting with the intended recipient of the pet and engaging him in the process of pet selection and timing. As appealing as it may be to surprise a child or other loved one with an unexpected pet, the ASPCA does not believe that it is in the animal’s best interests.