Humane Society Warns Against Gifting Pets for Valentine's Day

Cheryl Heineken, Executive Director of the Humane Society of Wichita County, advises against surprising loved ones with animals.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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The Humane Society of Wichita County is cautioning people against gifting pets as Valentine's Day presents. Executive Director Cheryl Heineken recommends giving gift certificates or allowing the recipient to pick out their own pet instead, as an unwanted animal is likely to be returned. The Humane Society is also offering a unique fundraiser where people can pay $5 to have their ex's name written on a cat litter box.

Why it matters

Gifting pets can often lead to the animal being returned if the recipient does not want or cannot care for it. The Humane Society wants to avoid this outcome and encourage more thoughtful pet adoptions. Their litter box fundraiser also provides a lighthearted way for people to cope with heartbreak around Valentine's Day.

The details

Cheryl Heineken, the Executive Director of the Humane Society of Wichita County, advises against surprising loved ones with pets as Valentine's Day gifts. She recommends giving gift certificates or allowing the recipient to pick out their own pet, as an unwanted animal is likely to be returned. The Humane Society is also offering a unique $5 fundraiser where people can have their ex's name written on a cat litter box, which Heineken says has been a popular way for the heartbroken to cope around Valentine's Day.

  • The Humane Society's litter box fundraiser is only available on Valentine's Day (February 14, 2026).

The players

Cheryl Heineken

The Executive Director of the Humane Society of Wichita County.

Humane Society of Wichita County

A local animal welfare organization that provides adoption services and community outreach.

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What they’re saying

“We encourage people like if they're if they want to surprise someone with a pet, to give them a gift certificate or to let that person who's actually the pet is for them to actually pick out their own pet.”

— Cheryl Heineken, Executive Director (texomashomepage.com)

“$5 and you can put someone's name in a litter box, and then, after the end of the day today, those litter boxes all go down in the cat house.”

— Cheryl Heineken, Executive Director (texomashomepage.com)

What’s next

The Humane Society's litter box fundraiser will end at the close of Valentine's Day (February 14, 2026).

The takeaway

Gifting pets can be risky if the recipient is not prepared to care for the animal. The Humane Society encourages more thoughtful pet adoptions, such as giving gift certificates or allowing the recipient to choose their own pet. Their unique litter box fundraiser also provides a lighthearted way for the heartbroken to cope around Valentine's Day.