Puppies and kitties are awfully cute, especially when they've got a red ribbons tied around their necks and are sitting under the tree, waiting to be picked up on Christmas morning.

But, say representatives of local animal shelters, it's not always a good idea to give pets as presents.

"Christmas is a very busy time of year," said Yvonne Ceslak of Animal Appeal in Sharpsville. "If you're going to be in and out of the house, or have lots of people around, it might be a good idea to hold off until after the holidays."

Puppies need consistency in their first days at a new house, Ms. Ceslak said, and kittens need time to adjust to their new surroundings.

"It's not a settled environment, they have differing sleep periods, and no steady approach to housebreaking," she said.

Giving a pet to someone else, she said, is only a good idea if the person who will be living with the pet selects it.