While watching “Harry Potter” last week, I had strange premonitions of the problem that animal shelters across the nation experienced after “101 Dalmations.” Only this time, we won’t be overrun with hyperactive spotted puppies. I see Christmas owls and rats in our future.

Each year, boys and girls write letters to Santa begging for a furry or feathered friend, and the desire to surprise them with a lifelong pal is great.

However, if you do not make your decision carefully, the outcome could be detrimental to the animal and your family. In an effort to make this decision easier, I have put together a list of things to think about:

. An animal should not be a practice in learning responsibility.

Either your child is responsible enough to have an animal, or he or she is not.

Either way, realize you must take responsibility for the new little critter when your child doesn’t want to walk the dog or clean out the kitten’s litter box. And it will happen. It may happen every day for the next 13 years.

. Puppies of all breeds are very cute – but not all breeds are the best dogs for your family. Take time to research which breeds you might be interested in, and only adopt an animal that will fit your family’s lifestyle. Are you willing to sacrifice the coffee table for a Lab? Do you have the time or energy to keep the mind of a border collie occupied?

. Take a trip to the library with your children on a Saturday afternoon to learn about different breeds and different kinds of animals. Be prepared to learn that rats can actually make great pets.

. If you want to buy a purebred dog for this Christmas but you haven’t yet talked with breeders, you are probably already too late.

If you are willing to pay the money for a purebred dog, make certain you are getting a quality, well-bred animal directly from a breeder. This process can – and probably should – take months.

Talk to local dog trainers or animal shelters for information on how to tell the difference between a quality breeder and a backyard breeder.

. Care for an animal can be expensive. Plan to spend several hundred dollars the first year alone to get the new edition its shots and spaying or neutering.

. While young puppies and kittens are cute, a quality used model may be the right choice for your family. Many good, older dogs and cats are surrendered to shelters every day.

These animals are typically beyond the adolescent stage (read: My new carpet is more likely to stay its original color) and have some basic obedience training.

Their personalities are developed, helping you make a better decision about their fit into your home. And they deserve a happy holiday, too.

. Santa and his elves have been known to tool gift certificates as well as toys in their workshops. Many of the state’s shelters or rescue groups would be more than willing to sell you a gift certificate for your loved ones.

This would allow you to give the gift of a pet, while also offering the benefits of having the recipient accompany you to the shelter to choose the animal.

At most shelters, this is the only option, especially when you are interested in adopting for someone outside your household.

You may be surprised that I am even offering the possibility of buying your child an animal for Christmas.

Every year, stories are published about the high surrender rates at shelters immediately after the holidays. However, the statistics don’t support this. In reality, animals given as gifts are unlikely to be surrendered to shelters.

Don’t even think about buying a pet for someone outside your own household.

Unless you can take primary responsibility for ensuring the daily health and well-being of the animal when the recipient does not, do not consider the possibility of buying a pet for someone. That means absolutely no pet purchases for the grandkids.

And, if you are going to adopt or buy your child a pet, do not allow this to be an impulse buy.

Shelters don’t offer after-Thanksgiving sales to get you in to buy now. There’s a reason for this.

We want you to think before you adopt.

Finally, don’t let Scabbers and Hegwig lure you into something for which your family is not ready. We don’t have room in our budget for extra cages for rats or owls.

Bev Uhlenhake is the executive director of the Bangor Humane Society, 693 Mount Hope Ave. For information, call 942-8902.