| Holidays are hectic times and threats to animals | | | | certificate from an animal agency or similar entity. |
| can include seasonal decorations, ornamental | | | | Your actions will be fun and conscientious--and will |
| lighting, ingestion of inappropriate or toxic items, | | | | build up the excitement and anticipation of the |
| excessive consumption of rich foods or harmful | | | | new arrival. |
| food, candle flames, to name a few. | | | | Need some ideas on what to include in the parade |
| Although you might want to include your pets in | | | | of presents? Get pet breed and training books |
| celebrations it is important to remember that | | | | pet beds or housing, dishes, brushes, accessories, |
| holiday dangers and seasonal threats really exist. | | | | toys, and certificates for grooming and other |
| Fortunately, anyone can take a few pet | | | | services like training and veterinary care. |
| precautions and make the Hanukkah and | | | | If you already have a pet, you can make |
| Christmas festivities into safe and humane holiday | | | | contributions to animal related charities in their |
| celebrations. | | | | honor. Families can research and select both wild |
| One simple but often overlooked step is to make | | | | and domestic animal rescue agencies since they all |
| sure that your pets are occupied with their own | | | | can use the help. |
| treats and activities. Good petiquette exhibited by | | | | Holiday Hazards & Hints: |
| pet owners means taking steps to make sure | | | | * Remember that plants (holly, mistletoe, |
| pets are mannerly and that guests and family are | | | | poinsettia, lilies, Christmas rose, etc,) are |
| alerted about the dangers of certain treats. | | | | poisonous to pets. |
| Rich foods and inappropriate feeding can create | | | | * Pine needles can create problems if ingested. |
| health complications for household critters. | | | | * Unsecured Christmas trees pose hazards to |
| Dangerous food items include holiday favorites | | | | climbing critters as they can topple or be knocked |
| such as chocolate, coffee, onions, fatty foods, | | | | over. |
| alcoholic beverages, and cooked bones. | | | | * Don't forget to prevent the ingestion of |
| Grapes and raisins can also be hazardous. So | | | | Christmas tree water since stagnant water or |
| make sure sure you have appropriate treats for | | | | preservatives can be toxic. |
| the pets and monitor the quantity. Be sure to also | | | | * Other holiday hazards include menorahs, candles |
| keep the human food safely out of reach. | | | | and liquid potpourri pots. |
| Alert guests if you pets are going to be part of | | | | * Fire and burns are not the only threats to pets |
| the festivities. Many guests will not appreciate | | | | and the household. Scented items can also be |
| your drooling darling or furry additions to their | | | | harmful--especially to birds. |
| good clothing. | | | | * The ingestion of inappropriate foods, tinsel, |
| It is easy to plan ahead to avoid problems or to | | | | ribbons or garlands can cause sickness or |
| fine-tune your guest list to pet people. Some | | | | obstruction. |
| useful tools are baby gates or play pens that can | | | | * Breakable items such as glass and other |
| keep animals from getting underfoot while still | | | | ornaments pose a threat. |
| allowing them to be part of the celebration. | | | | * Electrical cords, heated decorative bulbs, hooks, |
| Remember it is great to include pets in the family | | | | and a wide variety of other adornment items |
| activities but take steps to do it safely. For | | | | create temptations. Use topical pet deterrents and |
| instance, pets can also be placed in an adjacent | | | | barriers for protection. |
| room or yard so they can have their own "pet | | | | * Keep décor items out of reach of your |
| party." | | | | pet or in places your animals cannot get to them. |
| Since most kids love animals you might want to | | | | * Nicotine poses a threat. Keep it out of reach. |
| combine the two, and ask young visitors to | | | | * Keep trash lids on tight. Chewed aluminum foil |
| occupy pets away from the main festivities. | | | | and e-coli (Escherichia coli) are risks to pets. |
| Since the holidays are so hectic, instead of giving | | | | * Store food in secure containers out of reach to |
| a pet as a present, collect the pet necessities for | | | | prevent ingestion or poisoning. |
| the new critter and wrap each gift separately. Be | | | | Taking a few steps to plan your holidays and the |
| sure to conclude the gift opening party with a | | | | arrival of new pets can protect and save the life |
| picture of the ideal pet and/or a pet adoption | | | | of many critters-but it will also save your sanity! |