Tobacco researchers have found that secondhand cigarette smoke is a threat to the family dog, cat, or bird, although few smokers see it that way, according to The New York Times’ Well blog, which writes that a pet’s health can motivate nearly one in three smokers to try harder to kick the habit.

For instance, dogs who live with smokers are more likely to develop cancers in the nose and sinuses, according to Colorado State University researchers, particularly those with longer snouts. If cancer isn’t a concern for the well-being of pets, then consider the economy.

Boulder’s Daily Camera reports that pet owners in Boulder County face giving up their pets because they can’t afford to make ends meet. The Longmont Humane Society, for instance, has seen twice as many pets surrendered.

An Associated Press-Petside.com poll recently found that more than a quarter of those polled seriously considered giving up their pet, increasing the possibility of euthanasia.