....Just Say No!
 
Please don't give live animals as gifts.  It's not fair to the animal or
to the recipient - who may even be UN-pleasantly surprised.  You never
know.  And most definitely never wrap an animal up in a gift box.  The
"Christmas puppy" is a cute myth, but you never hear about the
unpleasantness behind the scenes....
 
Even if you *know* the person is ready and willing to care for an animal,
by picking one out and giving it yourself you deny the chance for that
person and the animal to choose each other.  You lessen the chance of the
two of them bonding properly.  Have no doubt, animals have people they
hate and people they adore, just like humans do with each other.  The
human may feel the same way about the animal.
 
Instead, give a "promise" of an animal.  Tell the person you want to give
them a pet.  Make them up a nice gift certificate or something.  Then,
when THEY are ready, offer to take them to the breeder or the store or
wherever so THEY can pick out the animal.  Don't pressure them to pick
at once.  If they don't find one they like the first time, don't press
the issue.  Offer to bring them back again and again until they find the
right one.
 
If you do it this way, you have a much better chance of making both the
animal and the recipient much happier with each other - and you - over
the long run.
 
roger & the wolverine wannabees
missing bear
[Posted in FML issue 4031]