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Along with all the fun and
excitement of the holiday season don't forget your pets.
There are some concerns and risks.
Halloween
Halloween can be a wonderful time for you and your family members, especially children. Along with the fun there can also be problems. People enjoy dressing their pets in costumes for parties and marching them around for friends and neighbors.
Pets that have not been exposed to ghosts and goblins may be very fearful about things that they may have not seen before. It is important that you expose them at a young age to unfamiliar sights and sounds such as balloons, decorations, and different types of costumes and scary music. If your pet has not been desensitized to these things - take it easy. Some pets are more outgoing than others. For those pets that are shy, you need to go slowly and respect your pet's emotional limitations. If your pet or puppy seems upset or anxious you might need to remove the animal from the scene. A nice quiet room is preferable until you have time to accustom the pet to this new stimulus. Isolate your pet so they can't see or hear the activities taking place in the rest of your house. The radio and chew toys may just be the distraction necessary to keep your pet comfortable.
Your family should enjoy Halloween without the added stress of an out-of-control animal. Someone can startle even a calm dog with a mellow temperament in a Halloween costume. Make sure you don't put your pet in a situation where it may react out of fear and snap or bite!
Other Halloween Concerns
Open doors
Make sure the pet is secured in another room so it doesn't dash out the
door when a group of "trick or treaters" is visiting.
Candy
Halloween candy, especially chocolate, can be lethal. Do not leave it
where your pet can smell or see it.
Tricksters'
Cruelty at Halloween is an unpleasant reality. Be particularly careful
of your cats. Keep them in the house. Sometimes black and white cats are
taken for sacrificial rites or just to be cruel.
License/Tags
Secure your animal's I.D. tags (imprinted with your phone number.
______________________________________________________________________714.558.1425
"It's Turkey Time"
Thanksgiving is a great time to celebrate with family members and friends
Leftovers
The wonderful smell will definitely attract your dog to foodstuffs on
countertops and sideboards as well as in your trash barrels. Make sure
that any leftovers are placed in a secured area. Dogs like to chew. They
can choke on turkey carcass bone fragments.
Seasonal Gift Giving: Hanukah, Las Posadas, and Christmas
There are many hazards during the December holidays such as trees, lights, ornaments, animated displays, trains, electrical cords, decorations, wrapping paper and ribbon. We don't want the joys of the holiday season dampened by a pet disaster that could have been prevented.
Barriers
It is advisable if your dog is not well trained or who has not yet experienced
these events to use a fence around your Hanukah bush and/or Christmas
tree. An alternative solution is to use a baby gate or an exercise pen
to block the entrance to these hazardous rooms.
The Floor
Presents under the tree are tempting to curious puppies and older dogs
when you're not home to monitor their behavior. For instance: remember
that special gift you anticipated opening Christmas morning… the
one Aunt Martha mailed from Iowa? "Fido", your trusted canine
friend rips it open and inspects the contents, which his keen sense of
smell detects. Maybe it was her famous chocolate chip cookies or fruit
cake "yuk". What ever it was--is now a shredded mess on the
floor. The next three hours are spent at vet's office or a 24-hour emergency
pet clinic. A holiday event you won't likely forget.
Emergencies
Prominently post your veterinarian's telephone number as well as
the California Poison Control Center 1.800.764.7661.
Runaways
If you do lose your pet, display signs in the surrounding neighborhood.
Place lost & found ads in your newspaper and at the supermarket. Also,
check with the local city and county shelter.
Help Line
Call the Animal Assistance League's "HELPLINE" at 714.978.PETS
(714.978.7387). The League has volunteers help you locate a lost pet.
Be proactive. We encourage you to have a safe and memorable holiday
season. For information about upcoming group classes, in-home puppy housebreaking
orientations, behavioral consultations and personalize in-home training
please call Bob Burrud's Pet Services 714.558.1425.
[Reference:
Animal Assistance League of Orange County]
