Think twice before buying your child a pet for the holidays.

We all know that iconic image of a child opening a gift-wrapped puppy on Christmas Day. The only thing wrong with that picture is many pets purchased as holiday gifts get returned to the pound by New Year's Day. "Welcoming a pet into your family is a huge commitment," says Jeff Blodgett of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Los Angeles. "The entire family, other pets included, should be involved in the decision." Factors like who will care for the pet and if someone might be allergic to the animal all should be taken into consideration.

A popular solution to this "pets as presents" problem is to buy gift certificates from local shelters or retail pet stores instead of the real deal. Sure, a piece of paper isn't going to be that "Kodak moment " of handing a kitten to an ecstatic little girl--but it beats having to return that same kitten when you realize your daughter's head swells to twice its normal size any time the cat crosses her path.

Check out our gallery and tell us which pets you think make great additions to a family and which should stay outside...