The Christmas and holiday season is traditionally a time of year when people add four-legged friends to their families. School holiday time means many people are home with time on their hands, but Council urges families to think about pets beyond the festive season. Every year, countless pets are cruelly abandoned and many of these were originally bought as gifts and later discarded.

Manager Development & Environment, Helen Ryan said, “I encourage families to think beyond the Christmas period and to lifestyle commitments that may impact the entire family.”

Pets generally require a commitment of 12-15 years - some even longer - so people need to take their short and long-term family circumstances into consideration.

“Families should think about the daily commitment of feeding, training and exercising pets, the legal requirements to microchip, register and securely contain, plus veterinary care and boarding fees, etc.”

Gift-givers are also encouraged not to give live surprises - while owning a pet can be a wonderful experience, not everyone has the time, energy, money or interest.

There is often a peak in abandoned pets around February and then again in May. Some of these can be attributed to people who did not consider the long-term implications of acquiring a puppy or kitten at Christmas time.

“Two months after Christmas, families are back at work and school. Five months after Christmas, cute puppies and kittens can morph into delinquent teens.”

“A pet can become too much trouble for families who haven’t thought through the ongoing commitment. New pet owners should be sure they can include pets in their intended activities, lifestyle preferences and budget. It is also important to consider and select a breed that best suits the individual situation,” said Mrs Ryan.