Should you give a pet for Christmas?

ATLANTA, GA (December 18, 2006) - If a pet is on your Christmas list, you should go through this list first.

   Is the person receiving the pet able to take care of it financially and physically? Is it age appropriate   Will the pet come from a reputable and licensed dealer who can give you a written contract guaranteeing the health and breed and spelling out the rights and responsibilities of buyer and seller? 
Will you be able to have a veterinarian check out the pet before you purchase it?  And is it legal? Many exotic species are not allowed in Georgia and the United States. 

   “The idea of finding a frolicking puppy under the tree on Christmas morning may be appealing, but a pet is not a toy. It’s not a gift you can return the next day,” says Georgia’s Commissioner of Agriculture Tommy Irvin. “Are you making a wise decision or are you caught up in a holiday gift-buying frenzy? Don’t rush into selecting or buying a pet. When the time is right, consider all the options, including giving an animal from a shelter a home.”

   Commissioner Irvin also warns consumers to watch out for “fly-by-night” sellers who will be nowhere to be found when the animal is sick and the veterinarian bills are piling up.

   “We receive calls from people who want us to get their money back, but we don’t have those legal powers,” says Commissioner Irvin. “A reputable and licensed breeder and pet store owner will be glad to provide you with a veterinarian report and/or let you have your own veterinarian check out the animal before your purchase is final.”