Humane Society Offers Certificates : Here’s How to Give the Gift of a Pet and Not End Up in the Doghouse

A pet can be one of the greatest gifts you can ever give. Whether it’s a guinea pig for little Josh, a cat to be a companion for Grandma--now that she’s alone--or a puppy for the whole family, a pet will provide love, teach responsibility and even help you live longer.

Studies show that petting an animal reduces stress and even lowers your heart rate. So a pet can be a gift that provides years of benefits.

However, “a puppy under the Christmas tree is not a good idea,” according to Jane Evans, director of humane education for the Los Angeles Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

“It’s very hard to make the choice of a pet for another person. You may think that Pekingese are adorable, but the receiver may not. And Christmas, with all the presents and relatives and chaos, is not the best time to introduce a puppy or kitten into a home,” Evans says.

An answer to this problem is simple: a gift certificate from the Los Angeles Humane Society. This is the first year the Humane Society has offered gift certificates, and already they are very successful.

For $40 you can choose a purebred or mixed, very young or full-grown dog or cat. You can even choose a rabbit, snake or another of the exotic pets that occasionally come through the shelter.

The gift certificate comes with pet food, a bowl, a pet-care book and a free spay and neuter certificate.

The price makes this a great deal. Pet-store prices for dogs range from $30 to several hundred, and spaying prices can range from $25 at a clinic to $150 at a private veterinarian hospital.

“The certificate also gives you time to get prepared to become a pet owner,” Evans says.

Just as at most places during the holiday season, there is a Christmas rush at the animal shelter.

“With a gift certificate, you can read about your pet, decide what kind of animal you want and begin to establish good patterns as a pet owner. Then after Christmas, when the excitement is over, you can choose the pet you want. A pet shouldn’t be picked out quickly. You’re making a decision that will last the lifetime of that animal,” Evans says.

The SPCA’s Los Angeles shelter has a variety of dogs and cats, and occasionally birds, rabbits and exotic pets. And, yes, purebreds too.

“Right now we have four Mexican hairless puppies,” Evans says, “and we’re always getting different litters. Every breed has come through this shelter.”

So if you don’t see the perfect pet when you go in to redeem your gift certificate, you can come back again . . . and again, because the certificate is good for six months.

And what is the best pet for that special person on your list?

“The best pet is the one its (future) owner chooses,” Evans says. “Different animals have different personalities, and you should choose a pet that fits your family’s life style.”

Cats are often favorite pets because they need less care than dogs. Apartment dwellers and people who are often away from home might do better with a cat than a dog. Your pet’s personality matters too.

“Cats often seem aloof,” Evans says, “and that might turn some people off, but they can be warm and wonderful pets.

“Dogs are social animals,” Evans explains. “They don’t like to be alone. In the wild, dogs and wolves live in packs. For a domesticated dog, you are its pack.”

Dogs are the obvious choice for families and for people who will be home with the dog a lot. But that doesn’t mean you have to cross a dog off a working person’s gift list. “Dogs can be left alone,” Evans explains, “as long as they get enough love and exercise.”

Fish take the least amount of time and care, requiring only daily feeding and regular cleaning of their tanks. You can even buy aquarium feeders that automatically feed your fish every day.

Although a guppy may not seem like the most “cuddle-able” pet, scientific studies have shown that watching a fish tank for five minutes can have a measurable beneficial effect on your pulse rate and stress level.

During the holiday season, the Humane Society also continues its regular year-round programs. One of the most popular is “Pets for People,” which provides anyone over 60 with a companion animal of their choice, free of charge. The shelter places about 10 pets per month with lonely retirees and senior citizens looking for a four-legged companion.

Another important program is the spaying certificates given with every pet. “Spaying or neutering is one of the most important things you can do for your pet,” Evans says.

“It makes the animal healthier, gives it less chance of disease and keeps your pet from roaming and fighting.” But, more important, spaying and neutering saves animals’ lives.

Fourteen million pets are put to sleep every year, because there is no home for them.

“We estimate that another 14 million are abandoned and die on the streets,” Evans says. “Spaying your pet is the only way to stop our terrible pet-overpopulation problem and the deaths that come from it.”

And what about care at Christmas time for the pet you already have?

“It’s nice to give your pet a gift,” Evans says, “like a bone, a ball or a toy. But, really, the best gift you can give your pet is a gift of your time.

“With the holiday rush, we tend to forget or ignore our pets. It’s great to take a half hour or so to play with your cat or dog. Let it know that with all this hectic Christmas activity, things are still the same with the two of you.”

So for that person who is really special on your Christmas list: A sweater would be nice, yes, and a really good book is OK too, but if you really want to give a gift that contains years of joy, companionship and love, it looks like the SPCA pet gift certificate is the thing to start wrapping.

SPCA pet gift certificates are available at: Los Angeles Shelter, 5026 W. Jefferson Blvd., Los Angeles, (213) 730-5300; South Gate Shelter, 9330 S. Garfield Ave., South Gate, (213) 773-2914, and Hawthorne Shelter, 12910 Yukon Ave., Hawthorne, (213) 678-2839.