A pet should not be a gift.

According to APPMA (American Pet Products Manufacturers Association), more people than ever now own pets – 63 percent of all U.S. households. The numbers are rising each year.

If you are thinking about getting someone a living being for the holidays this year, you might want to rethink that idea. Before you make that decision, make sure that the person is really committed to taking care of this animal.

People are notorious for changing their minds about their animals, especially if they do not choose the animal themselves. And it’s not just about exotic pets, dogs and cats are also effected.

It is a different situation if a parent is buying a gift for their child. The parent usually is the care-giver for the pet and is the responsible party for that animal.

There are ways you can give your gift without actually giving a living animal.

• Buy a gift certificate from the store or breeder instead of buying the animal
• Buy the person all of the supplies and allow them to get the animal on their own
• Or, take the person after the holidays to get the animal and pay for it.

Adding an new member to your family during the holiday season is not recommended because people have so many activites going on that they have little time to spend with the new pet. And, with animals like dogs or cats that roam free in a home, the pet can become tangled in decorations or even swallow them. This can cause a lot of anguish and expense to the owner.

With exotics, you should always be aware of any regulations and/or permit that you might need before owning the animal. If you own more than one hedgehog, for example, you must have a federal permit. If you own more than four corn snakes in Maryland, you need a permit. There are rules that pertain to many exotic pets. It is up to the pet owner to know the regulations.

So be sensible this holiday season and make sure the people you love want their pet before giving it as a gift.