Border animal rescuers have warned residents pets are a long-term commitment and not something to be adopted on impulse for Christmas or during COVID.
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Albury Wodonga Animal Rescue are hoping to avoid an influx of post-Christmas surrenders this year after stringently restricting adoptions in the lead up to the gift-giving season.
Vice-president Rae Smith said at this stage the rescue had not seen any Christmas pets surrendered.
Mrs Smith said pets should not be given as presents or adopted impulsively including during COVID lockdowns as they were a long-term commitment.
She said people often surrender pets purchased on impulse within six months when they lose their kitten or puppy appeal.
Come February when children go back to school and adults go back to work, cute Christmas presents don't always look so appealing, Mrs Smith said.
"People get a puppy and don't realise the work involved," she said. "It's not trained and they think it's cute... but then all of a sudden it gets bigger and unruly."
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Mrs Smith said before adopting an animals residents need to consider the long term implications, including what they will do with the pet during holidays and whether they can support the animal.
"You just have to plan for things," she said.
"Before you get an animal you need to think about the next few years, where are you going to be, do you have time to spend with a pet?
"It's a 15 to 20 year commitment."
Ms Rae said currently many cats and kittens were being surrendered and each year 'kitten season' was getting longer to the point where it was almost the full year.
"Please desex your pets," she said.
"There are two [assistance] programs running to help through Albury Council and Dunroamin or AWAR."