(JENNIFER STAHN / iNFOnews.ca)

Animal welfare groups are putting out their annual request that people not give pets as gifts at Christmas time.

Pet adoption agencies in B.C. say they do their best to make sure the animals in their care are going to loving homes with people that will care for the dog or cat for the long term.

“We're pretty good at... vetting the adopters," Mary Whittaker, BC SPCA Animal Care Supervisor says. "It's not like walking into a grocery store and buying a chocolate bar or anything.” 

Whittaker says the SPCA has potential adopters fill out an application, meet with the pet and learn about what goes into caring for a specific pet. Potential adopters also have 24 hours to decide if they want to commit to the animal for good.

She hasn’t noticed a drop in the number of pets being adopted this holiday season from the SPCA shelters across the province nor has seen an increase. The numbers have been stable throughout the year with no spikes or drops.

Karen Cooper with Rainbow Paws, a senior dog adoption agency in Vernon, thinks dogs aren't being adopted because of the rising cost of living for a lot of people. She says other pet adoption groups she's in contact with have noticed the same thing.

“Pretty much, it's been at a standstill,” Cooper says. “They’ve got dogs that have been in there since August, beautiful, really nice dogs, but it’s so slow.”

The SPCA encourages people to visit its shelters to get to know different breeds and select a pet based on their lifestyle.

“It’s really important to make sure the person has the time for them, and to make sure the pet is the right age, breed and activity level for them and their lifestyle,” Kim Monteith with the BC SPCA says in a media release.

“It's a big commitment, one that could be 15 to 20 years, so we want to make sure people are ready for a pet and want the pet they’re given.”

If your giving a pet as a gift, the SPCA says it's necessary to make sure the recipient wants one and has the time and resources to care for the pet.

“I know people's hearts are extra big around Christmastime so they might want to bring a pet into their life, but only as long as they're confident with being able to properly care for them,” Whittaker says.

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