My wife’s cousins, both veterinarians, drove to c-bus and spent the weekend with us. It was fun to have some houseguests as I had an excuse to stock up on some extra beer.

But I learned something interesting. I asked them if there was evidence that pet’s of smokers have any higher heath problems. They said that there was not yet definitive proof in dogs, but that there was evidence that cats that live with smokers do have a higher rate of lung problems, including cancer.

Then I wondered. People can be pretty fanatical about their pets, treating them better than their own human children. And I wondered how many smokers, if they knew what my cousin-in-law told me, would stop smoking right away even thought they probably didn’t consider stopping for the health of their own family members. I bet there are more than a few smokers out there like that.