Often, I add "my" to variables that have previously been declared generating this warning: "my" variable $pet masks earlier declaration in same scope.

I use "my" again to 'clobber' the old value, I could use undef($pet); too I guess.

In perldiag I found this:

(W) A lexical variable has been redeclared in the same scope, effectively eliminating all access to the previous instance. This is almost always a typographical error. Note that the earlier variable will still exist until the end of the scope or until all closure referents to it are destroyed.

I understand what the warning means, but I don't understand why it generates a warning

I'm missing something important. Is it bad coding style? Does it take up more memory? What are the drawbacks to redeclaring vesus undefining and then using the variable again?

#!/usr/bin/perl
use strict;
use warnings;

my $pet = 'dog';
my $pet = 'cat';
my $pet = 'ferret';
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Thanks, Tatnall