Falling for the festive fur-ball factor.

• Position: Pet Adoption

The holidays are upon us once again, and we find ourselves pondering one of the burning questions the season: should Santa bring Junior a shiny now bike, or that puppy he has been asking for? Animal care advocate Marie Mead knows that many people use the holidays as an opportunity to impulse-adopt pats, and it rarely is a good idea. "A new pet may seem like an exciting addition to holiday merrymaking--after all, during the season of giving, want to share the love with a new kitten, puppy, bunny?

"However, what seems like a sweet idea on the surface is not always in the best interest of the animal. Pets aren't toys; they shouldn't be considered disposable and, frankly, they just aren't says Mead, coauthor of Rabbits: Gentle Valiant Spirits--Inspirational Stories of Rescue, Triumph, and Joy.

Mead explains that there are several critical facts many people tend to overlook in their eagerness get that perfect Christmas snapshot of the kids frolicking with their new furry friend:

* You cannot just take a pet back to the "return" counter because it does not fit your family. Adopting a dog, cat, or any other creature is (or should be) a lifelong commitment. "Think carefully about whether you are really ready to provide a safe, secure, loving home for an animal. If you aren't certain the answer is yes, hold off for a while. Consider what abandonment of an animal teaches children."

* Cute as they may look together, children and pets do not always mix. Another drawback to the "kitten in the Christmas stocking" idea is that some kids simply are not ready for pats. Younger children, especially those who never have been exposed to animals, usually are too rough and exuberant to care for a pet properly. Inadvertently hurting or scaring the new animal may result in bites or...