BRIEFLY

Puppy may not be most appropriate gift

A friend of mine recently got a puppy. In frustration she called me one night, at her wits' end. The puppy gets carsick. The puppy would rather eat her collar and leash than go for a walk. The puppy barks for attention.

"This is harder than raising my daughter," she said.

Her memories of raising a very successful daughter may be dimmed; even a devout dog owner probably doesn't really spend as much time with a puppy as with a child. Still, no one should underestimate the sizable commitment of time, energy, money and emotion it takes to raise a puppy.

This time of year, countless people will buy puppies on impulse. All too often, those dogs end up in a shelter a few months later. Think twice, and think again, before deciding that a puppy is the recipe for holiday cheer.

Even if a live animal is a good addition to your home right now, a puppy might not be the best bet. Consider an older dog -- one that has already passed the chewing, barking, jumping and housebreaking stages. A great place to start looking for a dog is at www.petfinder.com. Most shelter and rescue groups list their adoptable pets on this wonderful Web site. Type in the kind of pet you want, and Petfinder will sort the closest matches to you by ZIP code.

Maybe a dog isn't really what you need. Consider adopting a cat. Cats are hugely underrated as pets. Indoor kitties become very close to their families, greeting them at the door, giving and receiving affection, and spending hours with the people they love. My cat has even learned tricks. Cats are an ideal pet for working adults who need to leave their pets behind during the day.

Just promise yourself, and the animals that may come into your life, that you will think before you buy.

-- Deborah Wood