A new puppy or kitten under the tree seems like the perfect Christmas gift, but often shelters see the animals being returned just days later.

Jackson County Animal Shelter officials tell News 25 it is something they see each year. Eighty animals have already been surrendered to the shelter in less than five days, many of those returns from the holidays.

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This puts a strain on the shelter, leaving them without space and forcing them to euthanize animals. Maridee Mallette with the Jackson County Animal Shelter said, “As always when you adopt be ready to adopt. Make sure you have the time for it and make sure you know it is going to live at least 15 years and be sure that is what you are ready to do. If not you need to wait and make sure about that, but also give the animal time to acclimate to your house because it is new for the animal too. So new house, new environment, new people, new everything, you have to give them time to adjust.”

One way you can help out the shelter and save the animals is through fostering. You can contact the Jackson County Animal Shelter for more information.