During the holidays, many families get puppies and kittens as gifts, only to discard them in shelters or on the streets just a few weeks later when the responsibility of taking care of a companion animal becomes tiresome. Perfect Petzzz is a better choice for anyone who's been begging for a puppy but may not be ready to actually care for one. The Perfect Petzz dogs and cats make breathing noises and smell like real animals. They just keep sleeping forever, though, without needing to be walked, played with, or fed, which doesn't exactly simulate the actual experience of having a real dog or cat but they could be a soothing (or creepy, not sure which) presence in a lonely house.
Perfect Petzz is selling these sim pets in malls around the country, where people may be tempted to purchase pet store animals as gifts. Or they can be purchased at the online Perfect Petzzz shop for $45.
If you're sure you're ready for a real dog or cat, and please don't make the decision for somebody else who may not be sure, then do consider rescuing one from a shelter:

1-800-Save-A-Pet

Petfinder

Pawsafe
Animal Advocacy Groups:

Human Society

ASPCA