The Christmas shopping season is usually a hectic one, as parents, family members and friends all scramble to find the perfect gift for loved ones.

If that perfect present is one that barks or meows, the Vicksburg-Warren Humane Society has offered some tips to ensure both the new owner and new pet enjoy a lifetime of happiness that extends beyond the holidays.

“Be sure whoever they’re getting the animal for knows what they’re getting, knows what it entails,” humane society worker Carolyn Moore said. “The time, the cost, the monetary cost as well as the personal time, because they’re … a commitment for life, not for a month.”

Christmastime usually brings a spike in adoptions as parents hope to get family and friends new pets as gifts.

“There usually is a little bit of a surge around the holidays,” humane society director Georgia Lynn said. “When you adopt a pet, we really want to place them in good homes where they’ll be a part of the family.”

But taking on a new family member during the holidays can sometimes be stressful for both parties, Lynn said, so understanding your new pet is paramount to a healthy and happy beginning.

“If the pet starts acting stressed out, you can simply move it to a quiet room with the door closed,” she said. “There’s a lot of children at the holidays. Some children are small and could actually hurt it without meaning to, so you just have to be careful and use common sense.”

Eleven-year-old Elli Koestler was one of the many children who wanted a dog for Christmas, and her dad brought her down to the humane society so she could pick out her gift on her own.

“I had a dog before except we had to put her down because she had cancer, so this is my Christmas present,” she said. “My dad’s been saying that you can have a dog so today we’re picking it out.”

A smile like Koestler’s on a child’s face is the reason parents adopt pets during the holidays, and it’s also a reason why people like Lynn enjoy what they do.

“It’s another member of the family. Like I said, it can be added stress. You just don’t know until you get it home, but it’s a good idea, especially for children who are responsible,” Lynn said. “We’re just trying to place pets in very, very good homes.”