About this column:
Dr. Kimberly Schwartz grew up in central New Jersey. She received her Bachelors of Science degree from Penn State University in 2004. She studied veterinary medicine on the Caribbean island of Grenada at St. George’s University and completed her clinical rotations at the University of Minnesota in 2008. She lives in central New Jersey with her husband and two cats, and is currently working at a small animal veterinary hospital nearby. In her free time, she loves to travel, visit zoos, and volunteering her free time educating students about the role of a veterinarian.The holiday season is upon us. This is the time of year when people buy Hanukkah and Christmas presents for loved ones, and it's hard to fight the temptation to put puppies or kittens under the tree as a surprise for the kids. People get excited walking into the pet store and seeing the adorable puppies for sale and often bring them home without truly preparing themselves for the lifelong commitment that comes with the purchase. Introducing a new furry member to the family is very exciting, but it comes with great responsibility. Unfortunately, those responsibilities are too often …
