LOUISIANA (KLFY) -- A Louisiana humane society said it's the busiest time of the year for animal returns.
"The shelters get calls from the grandmother who doesn't really want the puppy, from the parents who said, 'Oops, it was a bad idea.' Or we'll get the call five years from then because they gave a dog to their daughter, and now, she's going to college," Jeff Dorson said.
Dorson, the Director of the Humane Society of Louisiana, said to think long term, 10 to 15 years out.
"Theoretically, it sounds good. Who doesn't want a cute little puppy? But the reality is much, much different, and we want to educate people and give them some more information about what can go wrong. Because if you're giving a pet to a person who's not expecting it, there's all sorts of complications."
Dorson explains there are always hidden costs with animals.
"Let's say you're giving a puppy to a niece. Guess what? She's now responsible for vet care, food, bathing, cleaning, vaccinations, and rabies tags. And that's about $1,500 a year. They live to be at least 10 years or more. So, you just gave a present worth $15,000 to a 13-year-old niece," he said.
He said it's best to first ask a person if they want a pet and then find out what kind and what species.
"I want it to work. I don't want to traumatize these wonderful pets. You give a turtle to a child or a rabbit, and it's good for a day. Then it the novelty wears off. So, we get the calls that somebody dumped two rabbits in the city park, or somebody turned over [a] dehydrated turtle or iguana because they didn't know how to take care of it. So, I'm on the receiving end of the phone calls and the sadness that goes along with a failed adoption," Dorson said.
"It's a live creature that deserves the best outcome."
