Keep Your Pets Safe This Holiday Season

More than any other time of the year, the holiday season presents a prolonged period of health and safety issues for our pets. From holiday decorations, meals, and visiting relatives, our pet’s daily routine is often disrupted. Frightened pets are more likely to run away, making the holiday a busy time of year for animal shelters across the country.

The Pasadena Humane Society hopes that pet owners will prepare their furry friends for the holiday season with the following tips:

Decorations:
• Secure your Christmas tree to the wall or ceiling away from furniture that can serve as a springboard for your pet. Place your tree near an outlet so you don’t have to run electrical cords long distances.
• Chewing on cords may cause serious injury or burns. Place electrical cords higher than you pet can reach or hide them with special covers.
• Keep ornaments high on the tree, away from curious pets. Replace tinsel and garland, which may be dangerous if eaten by your cat or dog, with velvet bows or ribbons.
• Sweep up the pine needles that drop on the floor. Discourage your pet from drinking the tree water.
• Avoid toxic plants and flowers like poinsettias, mistletoe, ivy, holly berries, and lilies. Safe alternatives include silk and plastic artificial flowers.

Food:
• You may love to treat your pets to holiday leftovers, but any change in diet may cause indigestion.
• Bones can tear up or obstruct your pet’s digestive system. Cooked turkey bones can easily splinter.
• Skip the people food in favor of holiday pet treats. Just be sure to give them to your pet in moderation.
• Candy and sugar may give your pet intestinal problems. Chocolate can be especially dangerous for pets.

Visitors:
• Crowds and holiday festivities may frighten some animals. If your pet does not like loud noises and large groups of people, set aside a safe and quiet place as a retreat.
• Keep all doors closed. A scared pet might use an open door as an opportunity to escape.
• Monitor all interactions with your pet around children and new visitors to the home.
Health & Safety:
• Research your local emergency vet clinic before the holidays. Most regular veterinary practices will be closed, so it’s important to know where to take your pet in case of emergency.
• If your pet does get lost, please visit the Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA daily and fill out a lost report in our office. We also recommend you regularly visit pasadenahumane.org to view all animals currently housed at the shelter. The online list is updated hourly.

The Pasadena Humane Society will close on Christmas Eve at 3:00 p.m. and reopen on Tuesday, December 26 at 9:00 a.m. Animal control officers will be available around the clock for animal-related emergencies. Please call (626) 792-7151 for assistance.

About the Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA

The Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA is a donor-supported, nonprofit organization that provides animal care and services for homeless and owned animals in the Greater Los Angeles Area. The organization is dedicated to promoting humane treatment and compassionate care for all animals. The animals in its care come from 11 animal control contract cities, as well as partner shelters across the Los Angeles area and beyond. The Pasadena Humane Society & SPCA also offers lifesaving programs and services to the community that support the human-animal bond and keep pets in homes. To learn more, visit pasadenahumane.org.