Unless you are absolutely certain that the pet will be loved and cared for, I would advise against it. Many animals that are given as gifts become inevitable orphans at an animal shelter.

Only if you are prepared to be the care taker. Ninety percent of the time after the new wears off the parents are the ones who are left with taking care of the pet.

A pet should only be given to a child when he/she is ready to take on the responsibility of caring for one. This age will vary with the child. It is often best to start them on a pet that does not require extensive care, one that is, let us say, more forgiving. A gold fish perhaps.

As the child demonstrates his continued and sustained responsibility for the animal, then and only then would I consider scaling up to a hamster, then eventually to a cat or a dog.

Always keep in mind what is best for your child, but also what is best for the furry, feathery or scaly creature which will be your child's pet.

Never feel pressured, be it for Christmas or his/her birthday, to give your child a pet merely because you need a good gift idea. Only gift them a pet when they are ready.

I think it is just too hecktic on christmas to bring in a pet. Maybe a card stating that a new pet is coming to live with you would be a better idea. New pets need time to adjust to their new home too.

Categorically no. Giving an animal as a gift undermines the process by which children learn responsibility. They did nothing to earn the responsibility, and so will not be prepared for it. Without having to go through the steps of adopting an animal, there is little opportunity for a child to sense the gravitas of animal husbandry. By giving a child an animal alongside inanimate toys, the message is implicitly sent that an animal is a thing and can be treated accordingly.

When I was a child my parents took me to reputable breeders and shelters for our pets, only after carefully instructing us as to how we would care for them, getting vet appointments, etc. It was never for a birthday or as a gift, because animals are not things. If my child does not like a toy I can return it with no harm incurred to anyone; a pet not working out is traumatic to the family as well as the animal. The child should be more involved than just recieving a creature as a gift.

Hectic holidays are not a good time to introduce new pets to the household! All the activity and crazy schedules can be disturbing to a pet who is trying to get used to a new home anyway. Wait until the daily routine is back to normal.

If my child asked for a pet as a Christmas gift and I agreed to let him/her have one (because the parents must the main caretakers, it's not fair to the child or pet to get one with the understanding the child takes sole responsibility it or it goes), I'd tell my child that it will be an after-Christmas gift, and we'll go pick it out after the beginning of the new year.

One could also go the the breeder's before the holidays to pick out the particular pet you want with the understanding that the breeder will keep it until after the holidays. It's not an unusual practice to "reserve" the individual pet and a responsible breeder will usually honor your request.

Excuse me for getting on my "Responsible Pet Owner" soapbox here, since it's not really part of the question, but NEVER buy a pet from a pet store. They are usually genetically inferior. Always buy from a breeder who has a reputation for producing quality animals.

When I was 12, my Mom gave me a kitten for Christmas. She did not make this decision lightly. I had no idea that I was getting a kitten for Christmas but somehow she was able to get me to clean my room (completely, not just by throwing everything in the closet), I had to really prove myself worthy of more responsibility too. I didn't know what she was doing at the time but now I know, she was testing me to make sure I was ready to take care of a pet of my own. I was more than a little surprised on Christmas morning, by the big "meowing" box with my name on it. I was even more surprised when I opened the lid and out popped a pretty white kitten! I loved and cared for that cat for 17 and a half years!
Now my story was a happy ending, but it doesn't always happen that way. It is a gift that could be awesome, or it can backfire and be the worst thing to happen to both the family and the animal. Many animals that were given as gifts end up in shelters.
My point is, a new pet has to be a decision that the whole family is taken into consideration. A parent has to be just that, the parent. They have to decide if a new pet is going to be well cared for and loved by the whole family. My mother knew that I had wanted a cat for most of my 12 years of life, so she knew what I was going to say. She also talked it over with my brother, to make sure he was okay with having another animal in the house, and she made sure that I was ready to take on the responsibility of taking care of a pet on my own.

I am including some links to a few sites that include adoptions facts as well as information about raising a new kitten or puppy.
http://www.aspca.org/about-us/faq/pet-statistics.html
http://puppyintraining.com/christmas-puppy-are-they-a-good-gift/
http://vetmedicine.about.com/library/weekly/aa113000a.htm
http://www.pawsperouspets.com/adopt/petgift.shtml

you guys are the reason, we the children, are miserable! WHY WOULDNT YOU GIVE OUT PETS FOR CHRISTMAS! THATS THE BEST GIFT OF ALL!

I have to disagree with the person who said 'first a goldfish, then a hamster, then a dog' as it's difficult to empathise with a a fish and hamsters's cages need tons of work, you MUST clean them twice a week, te whole thing, and you must play with them as well a lot, people sometimes forget hamsters/rats need them because they're just there sitting in a cage. So I would actually suggest a puppy or kitten at first, so there's empathy and a connection, plus, cleaning a cat's litter box or dog's stuff from a newspaper or garden is so much easier. Yes, dogs need traing, well guess what?! RAts too!! hamsters wont learn, but rats do, so, if you get one, remember, they need as much time as a dog, wlaks outside their cage, toys to play and chew, and you as a playmate, and please, if you get a rodent, get a pair of females!! otherwise they do get sad, they dont bond more with you, they just get sad. So there are some more things to take in account. Take this advice from someone who has had a dog, many cats, parakeets, and rats. Also, the kind of pet should definately be the kind your kid would like the most, so that he/she cares and the rsponsability is not a heavy weight for something they dont like that much. it must be the hard part of something they love with all their heart. If your kid is dying for a pet, it's a good gift, if he doesnt even look at dogs in the street, god knows. And no matter how much he/she loves the pet, you'll end up taking care of it eventually, at least sometimes, so you must be prepared too. Hope it helps. Cheersa and merry christmas!!

Yes and No.
Yes because I think that a kid should always have a pet that they love.
No because you do not know if they are responsible enough.

i had wanted a pet for all my childhood. my parents finally got me a cat on my 12th birthday. it scared me for the first few weeks, because i wasn't used to having to take care of something else, but after that, it was the greatest gift anyone had ever given me. i would highly recommend getting your child a pet if they've been very clear they want one. it can add so much to a kids life to have a 'friend' they can hang out with no matter what, and make them feel grown up because they're responsible for the nurturing of another living thing...

It really depends. I got a horse for my twelfth birthday, but I had been riding for five years and learned to take care of horses and the things that go with them. My mother made a deal with me that if I picked up extra chores for six months and did not miss them once I could have a horse for my birthday. I still have her today (although she is old and retired), so perhaps if you worked something like that out you could add a member to your family that your children will love and care for. Also, it is always wise to involve a child in the process of picking a pet whether it be a cat, dog, horse, or anything else. There is a bond formed when we choose our companions. We know that the tabby kitten eating it's mother's tail or the lone puppy sleeping in the box is "our" pet, and that sense of ownership compels children to care for their pets physically and emotionally. Good luck and do the research first. Happy holidays.

I think you ought to give the child a pet showgirl. They poop in the bathroom and generally keep themselves clean. They don't shed very much and are fun to have around. Most are pretty cuddly when you get to know them and having some songs and high-stepping dance routines during dinner could be just what the doctor ordered, if you know what I mean, nudge, nudge, wink, wink.