Post-Christmas influx of unwanted pets not expected

LETHBRIDGE – It’s not nearly the problem it used to be. But it still happens.

At one time, the Lethbridge Humane Society and others would get an influx of unwanted pets that had been given as gifts. Manager Barb Grodzicky says they had to clamp down and ban Christmas gift adoptions.

“All the rescues kind of took a stand on that, and we don’t allow pets to be adopted as Christmas gifts. And we also work with potential adopters about the timing, when pets go home,” Grodzicky explained.

“It’s not to say that we won’t adopt around that time, but usually we approve the adoption and then the pet can go home after the festivities are over, and then we don’t have to worry about wrapping paper, ribbons, chocolate, all kinds of different foods laying around that possibly a pet can get into, or the activities where the pet can dart out the door because there’s more people coming in and out.”