GAIN: be informed before getting pets as gifts

by Nick Delgado

Guam - Are you getting a pet as a present this year? Animal experts say that may not be a wise decision. Guam Animals In Need manager Julie Grady says they have seen an influx in pets being returned to the shelter usually when the owner gets it as a gift.

She says the owner needs to be sure that the pet can be taken care of for its lifetime, saying, "We encourage people to be sure that if they are giving a gift of a pet or a cat or any kind of animal from a shelter that the person that's going to be receiving it aware, it kind of takes the surprise element out of it, but it also lowers the statistics for them to come back."

In the meantime, Grady adds that they are offering residents a chance to foster a pet during the holidays.