Keep furry friends safe at holiday time

If you're thinking of getting someone a pet as a holiday present, local animal activists have one word of advice: Don't.
By SHERRI L. SHAULIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
NILES -- As the decorations go up and the shopping and the parties kick into high gear, pet owners need to be aware that Fido and Kitty could be a little confused.
The chaos that accompanies this time of year can wreak havoc with the family pets. And although the curiosity of a dog or cat can be piqued with the new decorations, foods and people, the change of environment can also translate into serious problems.
"You bring a tree into the house and it just screams 'Here I am, look at me, knock me over,'" said Polly Wardle, shelter director for Angels for Animals in Greenford.
Those putting up trees in homes with younger pets would do well to make sure all breakable ornaments and electric lights are higher on the tree to avoid temptation.
"You may be better off putting the tree in a room where the animal can't get at it," Wardle said. "And never leave an animal unsupervised with the tree."
Ed Goist, chief operating officer for Animal Charity in Youngstown, suggests bringing in trees and other decorations at a time when you can watch how the pet will interact with the new environment.
"Put the decorations up on a weekend, early in the morning, when you are going to be around to supervise things for a significant amount of time," he said.
Wardle and Goist also suggest avoiding decorations toxic to animals, including poinsettias, canned snow and tinsel.
Stick to routine
Also high on their list of suggestions to is keep as normal a routine as possible when it comes to pets: Walk them at the same time, feed them at the same time and always know where they are.
"Particularly with dogs, who are such creatures of habit," Goist said. "Just try to maintain as much of their day-to-day routine as possible."
That includes avoiding too many treats during the holiday season, Wardle said.
"This is a time of year when we are eating junk that we don't normally eat during the rest of the year," she said. "You really need to be careful with animals' overeating and watching the amount of junk they are getting.
"Animals who overeat can get gas, or get an upset stomach that can lead to other problems," she said. "They can't tell you they are sick, or that they ate something toxic, so instead, they may get destructive and start chewing on things to say something is wrong."
Avoid pets as gifts
But the biggest problem at this time of year when it comes to animals is people thinking a puppy or kitten may make the perfect gift for someone else, they said.
"Do not give pets as gifts," Goist stressed. "This is a decision similar to bringing a new child into the home. It's a lifestyle-influencing decision that can't be taken lightly."
Wardle said Angels for Animals declines to adopt out animals as gift pets; instead the shelter will issue gift certificates.
"The animal you pick out for someone may not be the right animal for them," she said.
Goist noted that this hectic time of year is not the best to introduce an animal to a new environment. As people head out to parties or do their shopping, it leaves little time to train a new animal.
"People cannot minimize the extent of effort involved in taking on a new pet," he said.
Both Angels for Animals and Animal Charity offer educational programs for current and new pet owners and can answer holiday-related questions as well as day-to-day concerns for pet owners.
Call Angels for Animals at (330) 549-1111 or Animal Charity at (330) 783-0645.
slshaulis@vindy.com