I work at a pet store - around easter and christmas time, we have a huge influx of customers buying livestock animals. We'll have 10 rabbits in stock, and be down to 2 in less than 3 days. Rabbits are the most common animal this happens too.
Why shouldn't you buy an animal as a 'surprise'?
1.) are you SURE that person/child is prepared to care for this animal? are they old enough to understand it's natural tendencies?
Often times - kids see something that catches their eye and 'mommy, I want it' - they may not know that that rabbit needs to roam the house like a cat, or that it's going to need spayed/neutered to really bond with them - they think they can pick it up and cuddle with it like their cat at home - but, in reality, that may not even be a possibility depending on the rabbit (guinea pig, chinchilla, ferret, etc). - the animal may not LIKE being 'held' - children don't understand this, it's up to the parent to tell them and see if they're willing to work through that, or if they lose interest right away.
2.) Is that animal going home to it's cage already set up and in place? Or is it going home to a plastic box until christmas time?
Bringing a new animal home is a stressful process on the animal, Putting them in increasingly stressful conditions doesn't help this factor - only compounds it. And this initial interaction can set the tone for how that animal behaves in the long term. It's much better to have everything prepared ahead of time - to bring the animal home for an adjustment period - before just handing it off to an excited, screaming child.
3.) 'surprise' animals are most often the ones who end up neglected and abandoned. Statistically, rabbits are on the top of this list. If you don't know what you're doing with your rabbits, they can literally tear your house apart.
They're not toys. They're not 'things'. They're living beings - with primal/instinctual emotions and care requirements that MUST be met. They're not something that you rush to the store on the 24th so that you can show it to your child on the 25th.
You can absolutely by 'pets' for people/children - but it needs to be planned for. It can't be something that's spur of the moment - the animal will suffer initially if it's done with too much haste. ESPECIALLY with things like rabbits and parakeets.
On another - similar note.
Do Not buy an animal for your child and then say to them 'well, he's yours now, you have to take care of him'. NOPE - you are the parent who made the decision to purchase this animal.
There are vet visits that need to be considered (sometimes specialty vets), there are health and behavioral risks that must be considered - things your child is literally TOO YOUNG to be responsible for. That's not up to them - it must be a joint effort.
You cannot buy your child an animal and then yell at them when that animal is tearing your house apart - the parent must also take responsibility for this animal.
SO - if you're looking at surprising someone with a new animal very soon, I sure hope you've covered all the bases to ensure this animal has a lovely longterm stay in their new furever home - because there are alot of them to be considered.
Maybe I just took the fun out of it - maybe I'll offend some people to received their best and most favorite pet as a gift - I'm just trying to highlight - for those who may not understand - the risks of doing this, and that there are other ways of gifting a child with that 'special pet' that is also healthier and more comfortable for the animal itself.
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from Pets https://www.reddit.com/r/Pets/comments/kk1dmk/stop_surprising_children_with_pets_on_christmas/
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