KEY POINTS:
A new pup or kitten may be a cute present, but the Veterinary Association says people should think twice before buying someone a pet for Christmas.
Puppies are now the most popular search on the Trade Me auction website.
"We don't take issue with people using Trade Me to purchase their pets, but we hope their actions are not purely impulsive," association spokesman Pieter Verhoek said.
He said while it was tempting, Christmas was not the best time to buy a pet.
"Dogs in particular benefit from a calm environment and a set routine. Many of our members recommend that people wait until the excitement of Christmas is over before introducing a new puppy or kitten."
Dr Verhoek said the person being given the pet must realise their responsibilities.
"The cost of owning a cat or dog is not insignificant, when you take into account feeding, veterinary care, licensing and other requirements," he said.
"Add to that the time and effort involved in training and caring for a pet, and you can see the commitment is considerable."
Vets were also concerned by a trend of abandoning old dogs in favour of puppies.
"Some people really do upgrade their dogs in the way they do their wardrobe or cellphone. Once they're past the cute and cuddly stage, pets are abandoned or surrendered to shelters."
Adopting a pet from the SPCA was a good option because kittens and pups were desexed and pups were microchipped.
- NZPA
