........makes me so sad to see....

[Purple_Popple]

upon my shopping trip, to see the amount of people clutching/walking their new puppies...no doubt christmas presents which will end up in the local animal shelter by the spring...it just saddens me and I shake my head in disappointment when there are families wth small children with these little puppies pulling on their lead....new puppies and also a new baby...what an awful combination.

[ummmm]

You cannot presume.

[jules77]

New puppies for Christmas wouldnt, or shouldnt, be out on a lead in public just yet. Feel the breeders are partly to blame selling puppies just before Christmas to someone they dont know.

[boxtops]

Not everyone will be be like this, purple - not all will be cast out, some are planned!

[ummmm]

But you are only presuming they got them for Christmas.

[dotty.]

I know that the cat rescue place where I found Trisha and Lizzie were not allowing any kittens to be adopted before Christmas, which I thought was very wise,

[Purple_Popple]

Im just making an observation....

[ummmm]

But it makes you 'so sad' observing something that you don't have the facts about.

[kat1]

Same at ours dotty.

[Purple_Popple]

Yes it does make me sad...not everyone....just times are hard and most people are struggling with finances etc....just a bad combination in my eyes....when animal shelters are fit to bursting already...

[wolf63]

I have to admit that a puppy and/or a kitten has been on my birthday and christmas present wish-list for the past 40+ years.

My brother posted me a puppy one year - a Hush Puppy. He forgot to put holes in the box though...

[ruthann58]

new baby and puppy not always a recipe for disaster we got our afgan puppy when our first son was 12 weeks old they became the best of friends she would snuggle up beside him when he was in his bouncer and they would go to sleep she would tower above him but she would have let any one hurt him ,he is now 33 and still talks about her ,i do agree with what you say about pups at xmas there is so much going on its not fair to bring them into a new home at this time of year ,

[milly143]

I got a kitten for my birthday and although he has been threatened with a life long holiday to the nearest cats home a few times, 6 years later he still lovingly swipes my ankles as I walk to the bathroom every morning. It was my 21st birthday though so maybe it was considered I was old enough not to get bored of him.

[Chaffinch]

I had one of my rescued dogs, who was 6 months old at the time on Christmas Eve. He's still with us 4 years later, and will remain with us for the rest of his life, which hopefully will be a long time yet.

I wonder where you live to be so presuptuious!

[welshlibranr]

My friend bred my little dog, he should have been sold before 1st Dec, but he wasn't! last puppy left, she would not sell him in Dec. she didn't want him to be a Xmas present, so I had him instead, not really my choice!....my family persuaded me!........14 years have past, we lost him last year!............he was my little friend, no regrets!............loved having him!.............miss him lots still!................

[woofgang]

I think that while I can understand that shelters need to be careful around christmas, its sad that all prospective owners are tarred with the same brush. We went to a shelter in december to rehome, We had just lost our beloved dog, have no kids, don't party, had two weeks hols booked, I only worked part time anyway and we could have furnished excellent references from the breeder of our dog, also the local vet. Even though the shelter was bursting at the seams and expecting more pets to be dumped there, they wouldn't entertain our request, they wouldn't even visit or take up references....bit short sighted....

[jules77]

I was angry last week when someone at work who has two SBT's said she was going to collect her new puppy for Christmas.........an Akita, who was just six weeks old. I recommended she leave it until after Christmas when puppy was at least 8 weeks, and said if breeder wanted rid at 6 weeks I would find another breeder.

[lankeela]

We have a dog in rescue at present and the couple who are having him sensibly decided to leave it till after Christmas as they were having family and friends over. We all agreed it would be best for him to go to them when they didn't have to worry about other people leaving doors open, or him being frightened by lots of noise and upset. He was spoilt rotten in the kennels with lots of goodies and a special walk on Christmas day. He has a lovely new home to look forward to with people who are all prepared to have him. Only in exceptional circumstances should puppies or any dogs be rehomed at Christmas