Christmas Present Pet Surrendered at Woodbridge Animal Shelter

Woodbridge, NJ - As if the Fancy Pups Christmas Eve puppy raid wasn’t enough, there was even more animal news in Woodbridge over the holiday:

A so-called “Christmas present” puppy was surrendered to the Woodbridge Animal Shelter on Dec. 23, Dennis Green, the township Director of Health and Human Services confirmed to Patch.

The puppy, a toy breed, pictured above, was given to somebody as a surprise Christmas gift. But the person didn’t want a dog, and dropped it off at the shelter instead.

It’s never a good idea to ”surprise” someone with a dog or a cat as a gift, experts say. No matter how cute that puppy or kitten may look under the Christmas tree, pet ownership is a big responsibility that comes with 10 to 20 years of medical expenses, training, and care for the animal, experts say. Shelters across the nation report hundreds of animals given as gifts and then surrendered in the days and weeks following the Christmas holiday season.

What’s a far better alternative to giving someone a pet for Christmas? A gift certificate that covers the adoption fee at a local animal shelter, PETA recommends. This way if someone has expressed interest in getting a pet, you’re helping them cover some of the costs.

The puppy has since been adopted. He was the only “Christmas present pet” surrendered in Woodbridge so far, Green said.