OCALA, FL (352today.com) – Sure… cats and dogs could easily ruin your holiday if the tree gets toppled over by a curious cat or you end up in the animal emergency room because your dog swallowed ribbon. With just a little planning, you can reduce the chances of pet problems around your perfectly decorated home and adopt an animal from a shelter this holiday.
We turned to the pros at the American Veterinary Medical Association for these tips:
- Keep people food out of the reach of your pet and ask your guests to do the same.
- Make sure your pet doesn’t have any access to treats, especially those containing chocolate, xylitol, grapes/raisins, onions or other toxic foods.
- Don’t leave your pet alone in the room with lit candles, a decorated tree or potpourri.
- Keep holiday plants (especially holly, mistletoe and lillies) out of reach of pets.
- Consider leaving the tinsel off your tree if you have a cat.
- Secure your Christmas tree to keep it from falling over if your dog bumps it or your cat climbs it. Hanging lemon-scented car air fresheners in the tree may deter your cat from climbing it.
- Provide a safe place for your pet to escape the excitement (such as a kennel, crate, perching place, scratching post shelf or hiding place) if you’re entertaining guests. If your pet is excitable or scared, consider putting your pet in another room with some toys and a comfortable bed.
Now… armed with that advice, let’s look at the pets Marion County Animal Services (MCAS) is featuring this week in our Project Pawsitivity.
Remember: Adoption fees are waived in December!
TAKE ME HOME THIS WEEK – DECEMBER 13, 2023
You can view more sweet animals available for adoption on the Marion County Animal Services website and Facebook page.
