Every year, thousands of people flock to animal shelters to adopt a new furry family member, bringing home a pet as a gift for themselves or a loved one. Many of us have heard that it’s wrong to give a pet as a present… but why? Many myths feed into this story, including the assumption and concern that animals who are adopted and given as gifts have a higher likelihood of being returned after the holiday season, or that the love owners have for their gifted pet will fade after the season ends. Let’s bust those myths!

According to a recent study from the ASPCA, pets given as gifts are not any more likely to be returned after they are gifted, and they are not any less loved than animals adopted through more direct means. In fact, 96% of folks say receiving their pet as a gift only made them attach more happy memories to them and overall increased their love for their pet.

At JHS, we believe pets are family and that every person deserves the companionship and love that a pet provides. Adopting a pet during the holidays is no different than any other time of year – if you’re interested in adopting come visit us at 8464 Beach Blvd. Our Adoption Counselors will help you find the pet that is the best fit for you or a loved one! Learn more about adopting from JHS here.