We love our pets! Numerous studies suggest that pets can make us feel happier and more fulfilled, and they can even do things such as help keep our blood pressure down. But have you noticed the pet industry explosion in the last decade? In 2008, Americans spent over $43 billion on their pets! Are their limits to how much we should spend on our pets?

As Christians, it is important to consider both the moral and ethical treatment of our beloved pets, but also the moral and ethical implications of how we spend our money and our time. Do we find our spending on our pets serves as a substitute for giving to our church or to another charity whose works we believe in? Do we spend time with our pets in lieu of volunteering time at a local soup kitchen or community service organization? Are we spending money on our pets in part because we feel guilty that we work and don't spend enough time with them? Do we find ourselves feeling more compassion toward the plight of animals than the plight of people?

This one-session study offers a chance for participants to share the joys and pains of pet ownership, discuss spending on pets, and work on how to balance the love and attention we spend on pets with love for all God's creation.