Pounds across the country often experience a spike in the number of animals being surrendered around Christmas and New Year.

Bathurst Small Animal Pound is no different and is asking the community to think twice before giving a pet as a gift this year.

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Bathurst Regional Council's team leader - regulatory services, Mark Fenlon, said that it is so important to have a conversation with the intended recipient before they purchase an animal.

"If it's going to be a gift, they really need to discuss it with the person they intended to get it as a gift for, whether it's a kitten or a puppy or even a rescue animal from here," he said.

"It might seem to be a good idea at the time and somebody might not be offended at receiving a kitten, at least initially, but they really need to make sure that the animal has gone to a home, not a person, and that the individual is going to be responsible in their care.

"It's a big responsibility. It locks people in as well; if you've got a dog or a cat and you want to go on holidays, you've got to think what you're going to do with the animal, particularly around Christmas time.

"We would ask people to be really focused and considerate if they have that idea to give somebody a pet for Christmas."

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Families thinking about getting a pet for themselves for Christmas also need to consider their circumstances carefully before obtaining one.

Mr Fenlon said they need to think about the size yard they have, how secure it is, the exercise requirements of the animal and how much time they have to give the animal the attention they need.

If people go to the pound, the rangers can help them to find a pet that matches them.

"We will try and fit an animal to a person's circumstances. We want to re-home these animals, we want to give them a home, so it's a matter of matching these animals with the person," Mr Fenlon said.