And many of these gifts are probably the wrong animals for the people who get them. If you are determined to give someone a pet for Christmas, Beaver suggests you think it through and do some research beforehand. She suggests giving a child a stuffed animal or a picture of the pet at Christmas and later taking him or her to the pet store to help choose the particular animal. Be cautious, however, unless you're the child's mother or father, and think about it carefully even then. In that kind of situation, the parents are apt to end up hating the animal because it is requiring things of them that they really don't want to do.
Similar cautions apply if the intended recipient is an adult.
Probably the most important things to do, Beaver says, are to make sure that the person really wants a pet and that it will fit the way he or she lives. People who travel a lot or work long hours may find dogs are not a good choice because dogs need human company. Cats are much better in those situations, because a cat tends to entertain itself. Find out what the recipient expects of a pet. For some people, fish are a good choice because they demand only small commitments of time or effort while providing company.