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Pet Safety Tips for the Holidays The holiday season is upon us, and many pet parents plan to include their furry companions in the festivities. As you gear up for the holidays, it is important to steer your pets clear of unhealthy treats, toxic plants and dangerous decorations. Be Careful with Seasonal Plants and Decorations • Oh, Christmas Tree: Securely anchor your Christmas tree so it doesn't tip and fall, causing possible injury to your pet. Do not let pets drink the tree water, which may contain bacteria that can cause stomach upset. • Avoid Mistletoe & Holly: Holly, when ingested, can cause pets to suffer nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Opt for, just as jolly, artificial plants made from silk or plastic, or choose a pet-safe bouquet. • Tinsel-less Town: Kitties love this sparkly, light-catching "toy" that's easy to bat around and carry in their mouths. But a nibble can lead to a swallow, which can lead to an obstructed digestive tract. • Wired Up: Keep wires, batteries and glass or plastic ornaments out of paws' reach. A wire can deliver a potentially lethal electrical shock and a punctured battery can cause burns. Avoid Holiday Food Dangers • Skip the Sweets: By now you know not to feed your pets chocolate and anything sweetened with xylitol. Holiday cookies and candies are not good for your pets. • Leave the Leftovers: Fatty, spicy foods, as well as bones, should not be fed to your furry friends. As a rule, pets should not be fed human food. • Careful with Cocktails: If your celebration includes adult holiday beverages, be sure to place your unattended alcoholic drinks where pets cannot get to them. • Selecting Special Treats: Looking to stuff your pet's stockings? Stick with dog chew toys that are basically indestructible. Surprise kitty with a new ball that's too big to swallow, a stuffed catnip toy, or the interactive cat dancer. Also, as you count down to the New Year, keep in mind that noisy poppers can terrify your pets, and many of them are also scared of fireworks. Finally, remember to give your furry family members their own quiet space to retreat to, complete with fresh water and a place to snuggle, away from the holiday season hubbub. ~ Vivian Walker, vivr@sbcglobal.net Winter is approaching, days are getting shorter and cooler, daylight savings time is disappearing and so time to adjust our pack walk schedule – see the end of this article. Despite frequent and pervasive reminders to slow down driving speed and to watch for pedestrians, and warnings to wear reflective clothing at night, to use crosswalks and to look both ways if you are a pedestrian, accidents continue to happen and to cause serious injuries to residents crossing the street. I have come close to being hit while walking though an intersection at least five times in the last couple of years, as recently as last week, while walking through the White Sands intersection along Four Seasons Circle. Many dog owners have reported similar experiences to me. I wear a bright orange safety vest while walking so that no one can say they didn't see me. Please be careful out there and only cross the street, particularly Four Seasons Circle, at an intersection. Be courteous and do not cross mid-block. Pack Walks: All dogs and non-dog owners are welcome and we practice techniques to calm barking dogs • Saturday morning, 8 am, meet in front of The Lodge building (walks last 30 to 45 minutes) • Wednesday evening, 4 pm, meet at The Summit parking lot (walks last 15 to 30 minutes) • Please, no retractable leashes ~ Patrick and his dog, Ricky Ricardo: dog_owners@yahoo.com 36 FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | NOVEMBER 2019 Tails & Trails - All Pets Dog Owners Group