Pete’s pining for a puppy and Crystal’s caterwauling for a kitten … so you think you’ll be getting them the purr-fect Christmas gift. Hold that credit card! Before you cave, test your gift-giving in-tail-igence!

1) Dog = dough. How much bread will Fido’s parents spend in one year?
a. $347
b. $665
c. Close to a grand.

2) Puppies are usually weaned and ready for placement when they are 8 weeks old. What’s the earliest age that they are physically able to start learning how to “hold it”?
a. Six weeks.
b. Ten weeks.
c. Sixteen weeks.
d. As soon as Mom has decided that her white carpet has had enough yellow stains.

3) A capable kitten caretaker anticipates:
a. scooping a smelly box twice a day, every day.
b. a lacerated Lay-Z-Boy
c. supervising all of Fluffy’s outdoor antics.
d. all of the above.

4) A youngster who gets a companion animal for Christmas will learn:
a. responsibility and compassion.
b. that scooping up poop and getting up at 4 a.m. to take Max for “tinkles” isn’t any fun.
c. that Mom sure curses under her breath a lot now that she’s stuck caring for that kitten.

5) New puppies and kittens need lots of:
a. time, money, commitment, training, and patience.
b. hugs and kisses!