[Animals] If you are thinking of giving it as a gift, remember: an animal is not a toy

[#Wittels-]

With nearly 300,000 abandoned dogs and cats each year, Spain tops the shameful list of European countries that suffer from this social scourge. Almost half of those poor animals were a Christmas present

Pet: horrible concept. Although our dictionary gives it the meaning of 'companion animal', I have always thought that in reality, by cataloging that faithful companion of existence in such a way we are reifying him, turning him into something rather than someone. And perhaps there lies the origin of the serious problem of animal abandonment. In understanding cats and dogs as things instead of what they are: one more member of the family, a loyal friend. That is why it is convenient to address the problem before it occurs, that is to say now: in the days before Christmas, when many are considering giving it as a gift.

 

According to the latest study carried out by the Affinity Foundation last year (2020) the animal shelters welcomed 286,000 dogs and cats (162,000 dogs and 124,000 cats). 25% of the cases of abandonment were due to economic reasons, but the main causes (9%) also included that of 'loss of interest in the animal'. A hard concept to accept that forces us to reflect on it. For the experts who try to mitigate this scourge of our society, the first measure that we must observe and take care of is never to give a pet without having previously agreed, and with the whole family, that that dog or that cat will be well received. and properly cared for. Otherwise, we will be largely responsible for your possible helplessness. Therefore, to promote responsible ownership and avoid the risk of abandonment, it is totally inadvisable to play with the surprise factor and turn the animal into a gift: however desired it may seem to us.

 

And in any case, if after the essential consensus with the recipient's coexistence environment, we arrive at the certainty that everyone agrees to incorporate an animal into the home and is responsible for its care and maintenance, what we must do is look for that faithful friend in a shelter, never go to a pet store, much less buy it online. The reception centers (the so-called 'kennels') ensure the welfare of abandoned animals and carry out important social work by taking responsibility for them, providing them with basic care and providing them with appropriate care as far as possible. Many of them tend to have websites with images of all the animals in foster care and offer visiting days so that potential adopters can meet them personally and choose the most appropriate one for their circumstances. An encounter that can lead to a wonderful story of love and friendship.

 

A cat in a shelter awaiting adoption (EFE / M. Dueñas)
Another very important aspect to take into account before adopting a dog or cat is to know the legal environment that regulates the keeping of companion animals in our community and that of our place of residence. And it is that everyone who is going to adopt a dog must know in advance the obligations required by the municipal ordinance, as well as those that could be made explicit in the housing lease contract or in the coexistence rules that govern in their neighborhood community . The municipal regulations contain the rules that regulate and order the maintenance, health and welfare conditions of the animal, as well as what the citizen security regulations require regarding their identification and documentation.

It is essential to find out about it before adopting the animal and not the other way around, in this way we will avoid possible incompatibilities and conflict situations that could arise later. And it is that, although too many ignore it, when adopting a dog or a cat as a companion animal we are forced to comply with a long series of rules that go beyond meeting their daily needs for care, feeding, grooming, exercise or scheduled vet visits.

 

Campaign 'Animals are not things' of the Affinity Foundation (F. Affinity)
Therefore, given the high responsibility assumed by both the gift and the gift, it is advisable to avoid risk. Give up receiving that gratitude for 'the best gift I could imagine', to provoke in the loved one those instant tears of happiness, a beautiful feeling that, instead, can give way to boredom over time until giving rise to one of the most dramatic situations that a companion animal can experience, which is not a thing, but a 'sentient being', as recognized by law in the recent modification of the Civil Code.

 

Link: https://blogs.elconfidencial.com/medioambiente/ecogallego/2021-12-12/los-animales-no-son-un-juguete_3338731/