December 3, 2008

Prof: Think twice before giving kittens, puppies this holiday

"A child may ask for a puppy or a kitten, or it may sound like the perfect gift for a girlfriend, but there is a tremendous amount of thought and planning that needs to take place before adopting a pet," says Mark Bernstein, a philosophy professor and the Joyce and Edward E. Brewer Chair in Applied Ethics. "Another consideration, especially this year, is the cost associated with a pet."

Even if the animal is free, there are other costs related to food, veterinary care and boarding that could range in the hundreds of dollars or even more if the animal becomes sick.

Whether the pet is a Christmas gift or adopted any other time of year, Bernstein says it is important to focus on the correct pairing between human and animal.

"A child may want a border collie, but he or she may not know that border collies need an exceptional amount of exercise," he says. "The child must be willing to take the dog on many more walks than most dogs. And if the owner does not have time to make sure the dog receives the appropriate amount of exercise, or the person does not enjoy long walks, then a border collie is not the right breed for this family."

Bernstein also encourages potential pet owners to select a cat or dog from an animal shelter. Even though kittens and puppies are often a popular first choice, Bernstein says there are many advantages to selecting an older pet. For example, the animal is less likely to be frisky and more likely to be housebroken.

If giving an animal turns out not to be the best option, one might consider the life-saving alternative of making a donation to a local animal shelter in another person's name, he says.

Writer: Amy Patterson Neubert, (765) 494-9723, apatterson@purdue.edu

Source: Mark Bernstein, (765) 494-4295, mbernste@purdue.edu

Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu

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