Pets as Gifts
Policies that state pets should not be adopted as gifts are prevalent at many animal welfare organizations, likely based on the myth that animals who weren't specifically chosen by their new owners may be considered less valuable.
This belief is counter to research conducted by the ASPCA in 2013. The study, entitled “Should Dogs and Cats be Given as Gifts?,” was published in the journal Animals.
ASPCA Research Results
Using a random dial method through an omnibus survey, we reached 222 individuals who reported they had obtained a pet as a gift. When asked if obtaining a pet as a gift increased, decreased, or had no impact on the love or attachment to the pet, 96 percent thought it either increased or had no impact. Additionally, 86 percent of the pets referred to in the study were still in the home.
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