Chicks are Not Appropriate Easter Gifts

Pets are, or should be, a lifetime commitment, sadly many people get chicks for their children at Easter time.  These chicks are brought home on a whim, an impluse, purchased because they were "cute" with no other thought. 

Chicks are living animals, just like kittens or pups.  Most Easter chicks are not prepared for, not cared for, and most die within days, or a few weeks, or the owner simply comes to the realization that they now have a baby chicken... and what do they do with it!?!

Most people who get Easter chicks do not keep them as pets, and do not provide proper care for them (for example they need heating lamps), even though they are living animals, purchased as pets.  Chicks are at risk for stress, and can be hurt if held too tight by a child.

To make matters worse some of these chicks have been dyed.  While this is sometimes done safely and humanely, it is sometimes done with toxic dyes, the sellers knowing that the chicks are probably not going to live anyhow.  As the chicks are often dyed while still in their eggs, mistakes can occur.

photo source

There is no reason to bring home a chick as an Easter gift.  Pets are not novelty items, toys for kids, they are lifetime commitments, this applies to chicks too!

Read More

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How to Raise Baby Chicks

What to do When a Child Brings Home an Animal and Asks to Keep it

Many parents are dumbfounded what they should do when their child brings home an animal and wants to keep it.  This could occur with a stray pet, or a wild animal.  There are laws and restrictions about what you can, and cannot, do.  Knowing the right thing is very important.  Not only are you acting in the best interest of the animal, but the law, and the animals real owner too!

At the Animal Cabin we want to make sure everyone knows what is the right thing to do to help the animal as best you can.

Just because your kids have found a pet and want to keep it does not mean they can.  Even if you are okay with them having a pet there may be legal issues.  That pet had an owner, and that owner is legally entitled to get it back.

As such the first thing you should do when your children bring home a pet they have found is to check it for identification, such as a collar and tags.  You could also go back to where they found it and ask around if anyone knows who the pet belongs to.

Next, phone the local animal shelter or whomever deals with lost and found pets in the area.  This could be an SPCA, humane society, animal control, or sometimes the police or local veterinarian's office.  If you are not sure who to call your local police department will tell you.  Have them check their "Lost Pets" reports and be sure to file a "Found Pet" report.  This simple act protects you from potentially being charged with theft, unless it can be proven your children lured the pet from its yard or took it from a secured place.

You can also take the pet to the veterinarian or animal shelter and have them scan it (free) for a microchip.

Technically you have to wait to see if anyone claims the pet before you can consider it legally yours, this can be 2 or 3 weeks in some places.

Obviously if you have no intention of keeping the pet you should take it to the animal shelter so the owner can claim it.  Until it is legally yours you cannot sell it or give it away.

Never keep a pet unless you are fully prepared to care for it.

 

Read More Here so you Know what to do