Video: After-Christmas Season Often Double-Edged Sword for Animal Shelters

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TUPELO, Miss. (WCBI) – The New Year means area animal shelters often get pets brought in that were meant as Christmas gifts.

At the Tupelo-Lee County Humane Society, it is known as “buyer’s remorse.” Often, people who received a pet as a gift realize they can’t care for it, so it ends up at the shelter.

Officials say pet owners should be sure they are committed to care for the animal before they take it in. Also, the post-Christmas season usually means a slowdown in adoptions at the shelter.

“We still have over 150 animals in the building, right now up for adoption and our adoptions do slow down significantly after the holiday season an all of those animals do need loving homes. We encourage people, this is a great time when it’s cold outside and wet, come on out and find an animal to stay home with and snuggle up with some of these cold nights.”

The Tupelo Lee Humane Society hopes to break ground on a new, larger facility this spring.