Pet adoptions at one New York shelter have really slowed down, creating challenges like over-capacity and animals who end up staying for far too long. And while the need exists to get every pet a "forever home for the holidays,” New Yorkers may want to think twice before giving a dog, cat or any animal as a gift.

Gina Carbonari, the executive director of the Ulster County SPCA, has been in animal rescue for 17 years, five of them with the SPCA.

“Definitely one of the best jobs,” she said.

She said animals are her life.

“I think that they bring out the best in humanity," Carbonari said. "People tend to let their guard down a little bit more, just be more authentic and natural, when they’re with pets. They definitely bring out the best in us.”

While that may be true of most pet adoptions, she shared some concerns about gift-giving during the holiday season.

“The key point being that you don’t ever surprise somebody with a pet,” Carbonari said. “You want to make sure you’re making a good match between the pet and the human. So what we do here on a daily basis, is matchmaking.”

She said one of the big reasons why a match doesn’t work in a home is some parents have unrealistic expectations of their children.

“The most important thing is making sure that you, as a parent, recognize you will be the one caring for that pet,” Carbonari said. “And you still want to make sure that it’s an appropriate pet for your child, and taking all the responsibility for that pet yourself, not putting that on your child.”

Instead of a fur baby under the Christmas tree for a loved one, she had some advice.

“Get a gift certificate,” she said. “A lot of shelters will allow you to sponsor an adoption fee or get a gift certificate for that person, and then allow them to pick out the animal that’s really going to be best for them.”

Carbonari is eager to get all animals home for holidays, as her shelter is overflowing with dogs in office spaces. They’re still taking in the same number of animals, but adoptions have slowed.

The Ulster County SPCA is a no-kill shelter. Carbonari believes the main reason for slow adoptions is because of the economy, and how it’s much more expensive to own a pet.

Her shelter provides services for owners in need, such as a pet food pantry and behavioral assistance. They want to provide the resources to help people keep pets in their homes.

What drives Carbonari is her passion for matchmaking to keep pets in their forever homes.

“One of the things we always want to emphasize is it’s important to build a relationship with your pet, whether it’s a dog, whether it’s a cat, whether it’s a guinea pig, whatever you’re adopting and bringing into your home. You want that pet to be a part of your family, and that’s a lifelong commitment,” she said.