Christmas pet adoption ban at German shelters

[Eugene]

Source: BBC

Christmas pet adoption ban at German shelters

11 December 2018

A dog is for life, not just for Christmas - so the famous slogan goes.

It's certainly the case in Germany, where a temporary ban on new adoptions aims to cut short any plans to give an animal as a Christmas gift.

Dozens of shelters have told potential pet owners that no animals will be handed over in the run-up to Christmas.

Berlin's shelter, the largest in Europe, is among them. It says the ban reduces unwanted animals being dumped back after the holiday period.

"Animals are living beings with needs and feelings," it said. "They are not suitable as surprise gifts."

-snip-

Read more: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-46522116


A nice photo - but many animal rights activists think it's a bad idea

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

1. At least some shelters in the U.S. do the same.

About a week before Christmas they suspend adoptions.

[LakeArenal]

2. As one who once got a puppy on Dec 15th

I can say it’s a very bad idea.

Puppies are babies They need a lot of peaceful sleep and a schedule.

It was impossible to do either for that sweet baby. More than the usual number of folks wanted to pet, hold, feed and play. One drunk relative squeezed him so hard he yelped.

He never got a scheduled nap. He had to ride long distances in a car that made him car sick and puke sick.
He got skittish eventually of everyone coming at him. People fed him behind my back. And he got the poops

I felt guilty and bad for him. It’s over two weeks of input that was just too much.

I wish we had picked him up after the new year.