Should You Adopt a Dog or Cat During the Holidays?

If you’re planning to adopt a pet, you might be wondering if the holiday season is really the right time. There’s a rumor that pets adopted during the holidays are returned more often than any other time, but that’s all it is: a rumor.

“The holidays can be an ideal time of year to adopt a pet, as many people have time off from work and school to welcome a new best friend into their home,” Julie Castle, CEO of Best Friends Animal Society, says. Reputable shelters screen adopters carefully regardless of the season.

The bottom line: If you’ve done your research and prepared your home, there’s no reason a new buddy can’t join the family during the holidays.

Holiday pet adoption myths

The idea that adopting pets between Thanksgiving and New Year’s leads to more returns comes from the assumption that they’re all impulsive decisions, or worse, unwanted surprise gifts. But this simply isn’t true across the board, and this myth can actually prevent prepared, loving families from adopting when they’re most able to welcome a pet.

The truth is, pets are returned year-round at roughly the same rate. What does change throughout the year, though, is shelter intake. 

Many shelters see their highest intake of kittens throughout the spring and into early fall due to kitten season, which is when unspayed and unneutered cats have litters, Castle explains.  

Right now, shelters are also seeing more surrenders due to broader economic and housing pressures. The Wisconsin Humane Society reported a 23 percent increase in pet surrenders over the first half of 2025, with twice as many animals surrendered in June compared to the same month last year. 

Rising veterinary and pet care costs, along with a shortage of pet-friendly housing, are key factors driving pets into shelters — not just the time of year they were adopted.

Are you ready to adopt?

According to shelter data across the country, the most common reasons for pet surrenders and returns include:

• Housing or landlord restrictions

• Financial hardship and the rising cost of care

• Behavioral issues or unmet training needs

• Pet parent illness or life changes

• Lack of time or mismatched expectations

Questions to ask yourself

Although a new furry family member can bring so much joy, it’s not something to rush. No matter the time of year, these questions can help you figure out if you’re ready to adopt.

1. Can I commit to caring for this pet for their entire lifetime, which may be 10 to 20 years, or even more?

2. Am I adding a pet to my household for the right reasons — not as a surprise gift, impulse purchase, or emotional fix?

3. Does this pet’s energy level and care needs match my lifestyle?

4. Do I have enough time each day to feed them, play with them, exercise them, train them, and provide them with companionship?

5. Can I afford both routine veterinary care and unexpected medical expenses?

6. Can I comfortably budget for ongoing supplies such as food, litter, toys, grooming, and bedding?

7. Is my home environment suitable for the pet I’m considering?

8. Have I thought about how this pet will fit into my work schedule, travel plans, and daily routines?

9. Do I have a plan for pet sitting or pet care if I need to be away from home?

10. Are all members of the household on board, including agreeing on house rules and responsibilities?

11. Are the children in my home ready for a pet, and do I have a plan to teach them how to interact safely and responsibly with them?

12. If I already have pets, have I considered their personalities and whether or not they will accept a new companion?

13. Do I have a plan, such as slow introductions, separate spaces, or training support, if my pets don’t get along right away?

Alternatives to adopting

If you've found yourself saying “not right now,” “no,” or “I don't know” to even some of the commitments that come with adoption, you can still spend the holidays with pets in need. This typically comes with no financial expense on your end.

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“Fostering is such a rewarding experience and can be especially meaningful over the holidays, which is often a time of giving back,” Castle says. “Most shelters and rescue groups, including Best Friends locations, offer foster programs that provide food, supplies, and veterinary care while you provide a loving home.” 

Fostering can be short-term or long-term, depending on what works best for you or your family.

Holiday pet adoption tips

If you answered “yes” to the above questions, you may have plans to add a new pet to your family this holiday season. But before you bring home your new companion, a little planning goes a long way to set up everyone for success.

Pets are family members, not presents 

Before your new pet arrives, chat with your children about how to care for cats or dogs — including feeding them, gently handling them, and cleaning up after them. Bring your little one along when picking out supplies. Because pets should never be a surprise gift, visit the shelter together to choose the perfect match. 

You can find more tips on helping kids and pets get off to a great start in our guide to preparing kids for cat adoption. Despite its title, these tips actually apply to rabbit, hamster, and dog adoptions, too.

Deck the halls, but make it pet-friendly 

Tinsel, pine, glass ornaments, and poinsettias — they’re holiday staples, but your new BFF might see them as toys (or snacks). 

Before your new pet arrives, scan your home for decorations that are toxic, like poinsettias, Christmas lilies, or certain holly berries. Even nontoxic items, such as tinsel, ribbon, or glass ornaments, can be dangerous if chewed or swallowed, potentially causing choking or digestive blockages.

For more tips on prepping your home for your newly adopted pet, check out our step-by-step guides for dog-proofing and cat-proofing your home. 

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How to Keep Your Pet Safe During the Holiday Season

Everything from tinsel to turkey bones can be a danger to your pet. Here’s how to identify hazards and prevent emergencies.

Minimize holiday noise and gatherings

The holiday season and quiet settings don’t always go hand-in-hand. But if you’re bringing a new pet home this season, that might need to change, at least for a little while. “These pets have been at noisy, busy shelters and need time to decompress,” Castle says.

If you adopt during the holidays, keep initial gatherings small. Your pet should always start in a quiet, safe room. Even as they begin exploring, make sure they have a safe, peaceful retreat away from noise and crowds.

A good rule of thumb for a newly adopted pet is the 3-3-3 approach:

• Three days to decompress from the shelter

• Three weeks to get the household routine down

• Three months to truly bond and relax

The first few weeks of settling in are not the time for extended family and friends to meet the new family member, as tempting as this may be.

Stay home for the holidays to bond

Holiday travel? Not this year. The first days and weeks of pet adoption are important for bonding, training, and helping your pet feel safe and secure in their new environment. Use your time off to focus on welcoming and comforting your new family member.

Here are a few reasons you should consider holiday adoption

Millions of households will welcome pets this year, with many of those adoptions occurring during the holidays. This is a perfect time to adopt, not shop, because where you bring your new furry friend home from can make all the difference.

According to Castle, the impact of adoption is huge: If just one in 17 families opted to adopt instead of buying from a breeder or pet store, we could be a no-kill nation, meaning 90 percent of animals entering shelters would be saved, she says. Right now, the United States has an 82 percent save rate for cats and dogs.

Make this holiday season even brighter by giving a pet in need a very jolly holiday in a home, whether you choose fostering or adoption. Either choice helps save lives by creating more space for other animals in need, getting them off the streets and into shelters where they can receive life-saving care.

Ready to start your search? The Adopt a Pet search function connects you with animals nearby who are waiting for their forever homes.