The idea of waking up to a fuzzy puppy or cuddly kitty on Christmas morning is certainly idyllic.

But adopting an animal for the holidays is an idea that needs a lot of consideration.

The goal at the Bangor Humane Society is to set up animals and their adopters for success. If you're thinking about adopting a pet, you can talk with an adoption counselor and share what you're looking for and who will be caring for the pet.

Adoptions are not denied because an animal is a gift to someone, but the Humane Society wants to make the best match for everyone involved.

If you're looking for a pet for someone else, make sure you've had a conversation about that ahead of time, you know what the person is interested in and you know they have the ability and financial means to care for the pet.

The best way to make the best match possible for a pet present is to create a gift basket of animal supplies and give a gift certificate to the Humane Society that can be used toward an adoption. That way the new owner can take part in choosing a new furry friend.

If you want to bring an animal into your own home, think long-term about your family's needs and what you can manage with your lifestyle.

When you bring a new pet home, especially during the holidays, minimize the stress on the animal as much as possible The holidays are a busy time of year and newly adopted animals can be impacted by that. Think about how you can create a quiet, safe space for the new pet as it gets settled into your home. If you know you're traveling or have a lot of activities on your calendar, but still want to welcome an animal into your home for the holidays, adoption counselors have advice on how to manage that.

For more information you can log on the website, bangorhumane.org or call 942-8902. You can also stop in at the Bangor Humane Society at 693 Mount Hope Avenue during regular business hours.