Families considering a new furry friend for their household may want to wait until after the holidays.
With Christmas around the corner, many children may be asking Santa for a new puppy or kitten.
Brianna Howard, an Animal Care Technician at the Lincoln County Humane Society, tells us while pets make a great addition to households, it may be wise to wait until the holidays are over to get a new dog or cat.
"It's important to think past Christmas morning and realize all of the care and financial expenses that are involved with owning a pet."
She also says families especially need to be attentive to new pets during the first few days and weeks in order to help set them up for success in their new environment, which may be difficult to do during the busy Christmas season.
"Pet ownership is a full time job, and families need to be committed to training and providing consistency, especially in those first few days, weeks and months."
Howard says one thing families can do is give training books or reading materials as gifts, so that kids know a new pet is on the way.
As well, she advises that when you do get a new pet, slowly introduce them to other family members and pets, and be patient.
You can hear the entire interview below.
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