Pets are great. They’re usually good companions and stress relievers. They can also teach kids about responsibility. And if the Lassie reruns taught me anything as a kid, it’s that if you’re stuck in a tight situation, a good dog will leave and go find help.

We had a dog when I was a small child. But, for the most part I grew up with cats. For the record, I am not a “cat person,” but I know many people who are. Cat people are a different type of person all together. I am not one of them.

A few years ago my mom died and left behind two of the cats I grew up knowing quite well. The house Mom lived in for more than 20 years was about to be sold and, at the time, my family and I lived in an apartment that didn’t allow cats under any circumstances at all.

I told my aunt, who was handling some of Mom’s things I couldn’t from half a state away, to see that they were given a good home.

I asked my aunt a few weeks later what happened to the cats left behind by their former owners—my little sister and myself—who had grown and left the nest years before, leaving behind two of our childhood companions.

They were given, my aunt told me, to someone who had a few cats already, but didn’t mind a couple more pre-loved animals running around their place.

Maybe you’ve been thinking about getting a pet for someone for Christmas. There are a few very important things to remember, though.

Having a pet around Christmas morning can be stressful on both the new pet and for the new owner. Instead of giving the pet to someone on a confusing day when wrapping paper may be strewn around the living room and people who haven’t stopped by for 360 days are chatting away about what they’ve done since last Christmas, give them a hint as to what animal they’ll get, instead.

A card with a dog or a cat on it or a food bowl with a Milk Bone inside will light up a kid’s eyes just as much as them wondering what’s been barking all morning outside in the cold yard.

Plus, they’ll have the opportunity to choose their own pet and that in-and-of-itself is a memorable experience for a lot of people, myself included.

Now, pet stores may be fine for some, but with a tough economy I recommend your local animal shelter.

I rang the Pell City Animal Shelter this week and talked to the shelter manager Ken Ray.

Ken said this year the shelter is having another open house on Christmas Day. It’s for people who don’t go out of town who want to share Christmas with the animals. It’s at that time when Little Johnny or Janie could pick out their gift that can bring them a wealth of good times that I’m sure a new game system won’t live up to. Especially once it’s been rendered out of date by the next new game system.

If adopted, any of the 120 animals currently at the Pell City shelter would come fully equipped with shots, all the needed vaccinations, worm checks, are spayed or neutered and have a Home Again microchip implanted in them. The cost is $100 for everything mentioned, including the animal you’ll take home.

Plus, you’d be helping not only the animal have a better life, but also offering the child a chance to pick out their own special gift. That’s a memory in and of itself.

I remember picking out Boxer, the cat I got when I was a boy and was old enough to take care of an animal. My mom, a self-described “gutless wonder” wasn’t a dog fan. She would run from our neighbor’s dog, Muffin, who was the size Boxer grew to be later. So, we had cats at the house. And we loved them.

Animals are people, too. Ask your local animal shelter or veterinarian about adoption if you’re thinking about giving an animal for Christmas.