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MONDAY February 23, 2004 - Subscribe - Contact Us - Rate Card Valley&State Backpage O&E Sports Archives Classifieds Faith&Beliefs Obituaries Revels December 18, 2003 A living gift certificate Animal shelter officials say it's the best way to give a pet for Christmas By Susan DeRosia Ashland Daily Tidings Colleen Macuk, has been the program manager for Jackson County Animal Center for 19 years and 19 Christmases. Denise Baratta | Ashland Daily Tidings A current inhabitant of Jackson County Animal Shelter paws at a visitor Wednesday. "I've seen a lot of pets come and go," she said. "And we've seen a lot of broken hearts and returned animals." Macuk said that before they abandoned the practice of letting people adopt pets to give as Christmas presents, there were many downsides. "People would bring the pet back and say 'I'm allergic to cats!' or that the person giving the pet didn't know what they need in their lives." Now the shelter offers gift certificates for pet adoptions. The cost of an adoption is $70 for a dog and $50 for a cat. That covers the pet's vaccinations, a free check-up, and the spaying or neutering of the animal. They also offer support after the adoption. That may include help with problems the animal may be having adapting in the home or some initial free advice from animal behaviorists. The staff can also help with dog training tips and names of dog trainers in the area. Getting a new puppy at Christmas can be a disaster for a family, with the new pet coming at a very stressful time. With the gift certificate, the potential pet owner has a better chance to choose the correct time for themselves and their families. "Picking out a pet is a lifelong commitment for the pet so it's important that the person make that commitment, that they make the choice," Macuk said. Many families or individuals will have an idea about what kind of pet they want, then do some research about the breeds that seem to fit their needs. Parents will want to be realistic about how much care they can expect their children to give to the animal. Keeping in mind that the pet be a good match for both the present and the future, people need to also consider the costs of owning a pet, which can range from $200 to $600 a year. A surprising number of different breeds are available at the shelter, said Macuk. "Just because a dog is a pure breed, it doesn't mean that it won't show up here. In a month, a variety of dogs in pretty much every breed come through the shelter. People can get on our want list," she said. Many people prefer smaller dogs. She also has found that many people are choosing mixed breed dogs because they don't carry some of the strong traits specific to individual breeds and can be more adaptable. In addition to the Jackson County Animal Shelter, the Southern Oregon Humane Society can offer assistance with decision making on pets. The Humane Society is located at 2910 Table Rock Road in Medford and their phone number is 779-3215. More information can be found on-line at www:southernoregonhumane.org. Both organizations offer volunteer opportunities. While many pets quickly warm their new owners' hearts and become devoted family members, the sad reality is that after the holidays are over, many pets die from lack of care, are abandoned, or are turned into the humane society or animal shelter once the initial reality seeps in that animals need help to stay alive and well. For more information about the Jackson County Animal Shelter, call 774-6655. The hours for phone calls are 10 a.m.-noon and 1-4 p.m. DailyTidings.com Home Page Valley&State | Backpage | O&E | Sports | Archives | Weather | Classifieds Columnists | Faith&Beliefs | Obituaries | Revels | Subscribe | Contact Us Copyright 2004 Ashland Daily Tidings and Ottaway Newspapers All Rights Reserved Site Search: A new improved archive search is coming! Look for it in mid-February! .:Advertisements:. RESOURCES - ODOT Road Cams