There’s nothing quite like waking up Christmas morning to find a fuzzy puppy under the tree.

Making the decision to put a bow on a dog or cat and give it away as a present is a great one – especially if the recipient truly wants a pet – but it does come with some responsibility attached, warn officials from Pasco County Animal Services.

“A new pet is a big responsibility, but also a gift that keeps on giving,” says Judy Gregory, spokeswoman for Pasco County Animal Services. “A new furry friend for Christmas can be a lifelong companion.”

There are some things potential adoptees need to think about those, especially during the holidays.

“If you are going to travel during the season, you might want to wait until you return to adopt a pet,” Gregory advises. “Also, you might want to consider adopting an older pet that is already trained so that you won’t have to deal with chewing and teaching them to use the bathroom outside over the holidays.”

Pasco County Animal Services is tunning pricing specials throughout December to help residents who want to give the gift of a pet this holiday season save a little money in the process.

For more information, visit Animal Services online.