An important message from the Roscommon SPCA at Christmas:
Buyer’s regret is common all year but especially at Christmas. As we enter the festive season, we are appealing to everyone to please refrain from giving or acquiring animals as gifts. As the renown slogan rightly says: an animal is for life not just for Christmas. Pets do not have gift receipts.
Unfortunately, it is all too easy to underestimate the time, energy and money required to properly care for our furry friend’s long term. And to forget that they chew, need patient toilet training and grow much larger than their original cute puppy or kitten phase. The festive season is entirely unsuitable for integrating a new fur baby, manic as it is in all households.
The Roscommon SPCA invariably end up trying to cope with a post-Christmas wave of abandoned and surrendered pets which is hugely upsetting. As a voluntarily organisation which is entirely dependent on a core group of dedicated volunteers this also stretches us to our limit. We do not have our own premises so trying to source new homes is a difficult, costly and emotionally draining endeavour.
We have a range of beautiful animals crying out for adoption throughout the year. So, please’. Press pause/paws this Christmas to weigh up all the commitment required from a responsible pet owner. Many thanks for your consideration in this regard from us all in the Roscommon SPCA.
By Una Clay
Roscommon SPCA