cout << something that may not exist

[Lynx876]

I need to use an if statement to create an object of a class and then use std::cout to print the object data afterwards.

The only problem is, that if I use an if statement, the object may not exist.

Here is a sample of the code I'm using:

if( nameInput == "dog" )
	Animal an( 1, 0, 0, charInput );

else if( nameInput == "cat" )
	Animal an( 0, 1, 0, charInput );

else if( nameInput == "bird" )
	Animal an( 0, 0, 1, charInput );

else
{
	std::cout << "\n\nERROR creating animal!\n\n";
	return 0;
}

std::cout << an << '\n';

I have an overloaded function for the std::cout << <object>.
I'm recieving the error: 'an' : undeclared identifier; on line 16.

Is there a way passed this? A way to print something that may not actually exist, given the right circumstances.

Thanks for any help.

[ultifinitus]

Create "an" before your if statements, maybe with a pointer, then you can call new inside the if statements and pass in the necessary params.

[Lynx876]

Thanks. I've done that now.

Created it before and passed params afterwards.