Written by Martin J. Young, former correspondent of Asia Times

Question: One of my fondest childhood memories is a Christmas morning 14 years ago, when I came down with my siblings and found a puppy under the tree. My brother and sister and I grew up with that dog, and we were all heartbroken when we finally had to say goodbye a couple of weeks ago. Nobody has it worse than my parents, though: with all the kids at college and the dog gone, they sound lonely. They seem to want another dog, so my siblings and I thought of something: we’d replicate that Christmas morning, only this time we’d give the dog to my parents.

When I shared this idea with my friends here at school, they thought it was awful. They say you should never give pets as gifts. I know the rule, but we’re quite sure my parents want a dog, so what’s wrong with giving them one?

Answer:

It’s true that conventional wisdom dictates that pets should never be given as gifts. Why is that? It has to do with the commitment required to truly care for an animal. Pet health professionals at Petaluma Veterinary Hospital told us that dogs are expensive, and that first-year costs can be even higher due to the need to take care of one-time costs like spaying or neutering. It costs an average of $1,270 to care for a dog in its first year in your home, and that’s to say nothing of the personal cost of responsibilities like walking the dog and spending time with it. The fear, then, is that people who receive dogs as gifts won’t be ready to commit to all of these expenses and responsibilities.

But is this true? The ASPCA decided to found out, and the study they commissioned produced some very surprising results. Only 3% of survey respondents felt getting a pet as a gift diminished their attachment and commitment, and a majority said it actually increased their connection.

With 3.3 million dogs entering shelters every year in the United States alone, the ASPCA wasn’t keen on limiting the supply of potential loving owners. So they announced a policy that gave the go-ahead to pets as gifts–with certain key guidelines. The ASPCA recommends giving pets as gifts only to people who have shown “a sustained interest” in owning one.

Does this describe your parents? That’s hard to say. Your dog has not been gone long, and while they may be lonely, you and your siblings need to be sure that they really want a dog before you saddle them with the responsibility. Though it may be the end of the surprise, it’s likely worth discussing this with your parents in much more direct terms.

If you decide to go another direction, you don’t have to abandon the dog idea entirely. Unique Christmas gifts for dog owners are easy to find–you could look for handmade art featuring dogs, for instance, or could even commission a portrait of your departed pal for your parents. Perhaps this Christmas’ gift should celebrate your family’s dog, and the next canine pal should arrive next year instead.

“A dog is the only thing on earth that loves you more than he loves himself.” ― Josh Billings