Is it okay to get a dog during the holidays? Getting a dog is a big decision and shouldn’t be taken lightly. Despite the common “don’t get a dog for Christmas” pleas, the holidays could be a wonderful time to add a new family member.
I believe getting a dog is personal and what is right for one person, isn’t necessarily right for another.
Personally, I think it would be stressful to bring home a new dog during the holidays if you have small children.
However, if you don’t have kids, or have older kids, then a new furry family member might bring more joy than you could imagine. One of the advantages of bringing home a dog during the holidays is time off from work. This would be great to give the dog time to adjust to his new home with you right there.
Having a dog is a big responsibility. Make sure you have the time, energy, and budget to care for your new best friend.
Best Friends Animal Sanctuary is waiving the adoption fees in December for all their senior dogs (and cats.) Here are just a few available senior dogs who would love to be home for the holidays. Photos courtesy of Best Friends Animal Society.
Pepe is a Chihuahua-Dachshund mix who loves cuddling and snacking. Taters is a Westie who likes other dogs. She has allergies and is on a special diet.
Sprinkles is ready for a home of her own, it will be her first one! She is about ten years old and loves humans. Pringles has a degenerative joint disease and needs to go for short walks. He is highly social and thrives on attention from people and dogs.
I met Keegan and Tom Tom last May, and I’m suprised that they are still at the Sanctuary. Both are super sweet.
Thirteen-year-old Trigger is laid back and relaxed. Raimus is a ladies’ man, preferring female dogs to males and is also a bit of an escape artist. They both have the sweetest eyes!
Blue Heeler/Cattle Dog Avon loves agility. I spent time with handsome Lincoln in May. He is friendly, smart, and would be a great companion.
The adoption fees for these dogs are waived for December, additionally Best Friends offers a fantastic Senior Special year round as well. No adoption fee for seniors adopting seniors!
If your home is already full, please share these dogs to help get them home.
Follow Best Friends Animal Society on Facebook.
Regardless of what time of year it is, don’t buy a puppy online or from a pet store. Puppy mills WILL go out of business if people don’t support them.
What a handsome group of dogs ~ we’ll keep our paws crossed they find a forever home this holiday season.
Adopting a dog is the best! We adopted ours in November and it was actually really nice because my husband and I both had time off from work to stay home with the pups.
OMGEEE I want them ALL. I agree with you 100% – adopting a pet is a person choice and would be wonderful during the holidays. As you said more time off from work gives you and pup time to bond and him to get comfy in his new home. Now giving a pup as a gift – not so much unless you KNOW the person has been wanting a pet. Even then however I feel people should select their own pets most of the time.
Regardless, love this post and loved seeing these precious faces!
I personally feel when a person wants to adopt that is the right time throughout the year
How people can’t adopt a senior is beyond me, they are the centre of our lives here. Our cats who are senior are as giving and lively as any junior.
I agree about the stress of bringing a dog home during the holidays – though I also love the idea of adopting a senior dog at this time of year. Taters is so adorable and gosh I wish I could adopt him. What a sweet face.
Getting a dog or puppy as a gift for someone else can be a beautiful thing IF you properly research & plan it out, making sure the recipient can handle everything that goes along with having a dog. Where & how you get that new pup is so important! I love that Best Friends is waiving adoption fees for the holidays, they’re a wonderful, reputable organization!
Love & biscuits,
Dogs Luv Us and We Luv Them
Those are some really cute dogs. I agree with others, when the time is right, the time is right. We brought our last dog home on Dec 19th and it was the best holiday ever!
That sounds like a wonderful way to spend the holidays!!
I so appreciate your focus on adopting a senior dog. I can’t think of anything better than giving a senior dog who has been at a shelter for an extended period of time a safe, soft and loving place to land, especially during the holidays. I intentionally keep my holidays low stress and think that it would be a lovely time to introduce a new pet into the home but, as you say, it’s definitely a personal choice.
My dogs are all seniors now (don’t tell them that!) and my heart is just so full of love for them. Thank you for highlighting senior dogs – my niece just adopted a 13-year-old Pomeranian whose person was just admitted into a nursing home. What a little doll who had been so loved, then lost, and is now in a loving home again to finish out her golden years. Pinning your post to share!
What a beautiful group of dogs! I agree about Christmas dogs. It depends on the situation! Never surprise someone with a dog, especially if you don’t know for sure that they want one! However, if someone wants to adopt a dog around Christmas time, these seniors are some awesome options!
I think it is lovely to adopt a dog, particularly a senior for the holidays, as long as you do your research and understand the commitment. Love your photos- such a great group- hope they find their homes.
I think if you’re prepared and not traveling, it would be a good time… unless you’re trying to housetrain a puppy!
All of these dogs are so adorable! You ladies always do such an amazing job of capturing the spirit of a pet. I agree with you – Christmas can be a great time to adopt a pet. My only objection is that you don’t want to get a pet for someone else as a present. It is important that people choose that responsibility for themselves.
In general, I would advise people to not surprise someone with an unasked for pet.
You make some amazing points for reasons why bringing a new dog home during the holidays could be a wonderful addition. I hope some of the pups you highlighted are matched with a forever home for the holidays.
Great post! I totally agree with all of your points. I hope they all get forever homes!
Seniors rock plain and simple. I want for animals in need to get the forever loving homes they deserve. I want posts like this to not have to exist. I am grateful for caring people like you who share their stories and images and help them get homes.
Adopting is so important and senior dogs are the most overlooked. Thanks for publishing this