diff --git a/include/decl.h b/include/decl.h
index 5e211f053..7fcde0c6c 100644
--- a/include/decl.h
+++ b/include/decl.h
@@ -192,8 +192,6 @@ E NEARDATA char dogname[];
 E NEARDATA char catname[];
 E NEARDATA char horsename[];
 E char preferred_pet;
-E int petname_used;
-
 E const char *occtxt; /* defined when occupation != NULL */
 E const char *nomovemsg;
 E char lock[];
@@ -442,7 +440,6 @@ struct early_opt {
 /* encumbrance */
 E int oldcap;
 
-
 #undef E
 
 #endif /* DECL_H */
diff --git a/src/decl.c b/src/decl.c
index 10f67f7de..c3397a048 100644
--- a/src/decl.c
+++ b/src/decl.c
@@ -207,7 +207,6 @@ NEARDATA char dogname[PL_PSIZ] = DUMMY;
 NEARDATA char catname[PL_PSIZ] = DUMMY;
 NEARDATA char horsename[PL_PSIZ] = DUMMY;
 char preferred_pet; /* '\0', 'c', 'd', 'n' (none) */
-int petname_used = 0;
 /* monsters that went down/up together with @ */
 NEARDATA struct monst *mydogs = (struct monst *) 0;
 /* monsters that are moving to another dungeon level */
@@ -573,8 +572,7 @@ decl_early_init()
     ZEROARRAYN(dogname, PL_PSIZ);
     ZEROARRAYN(catname, PL_PSIZ);
     ZEROARRAYN(horsename, PL_PSIZ);
-    ZERO(preferred_pet);
-    ZERO(petname_used);
+    preferred_pet = 0;
     ZEROPTR(mydogs);
     ZEROPTR(migrating_mons);
 
diff --git a/src/dog.c b/src/dog.c
index 7c1b62e8b..0d967195e 100644
--- a/src/dog.c
+++ b/src/dog.c
@@ -160,6 +160,7 @@ makedog()
     register struct obj *otmp;
     const char *petname;
     int pettype;
+    static int petname_used = 0;
 
     if (preferred_pet == 'n')
         return ((struct monst *) 0);