It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. And while this is a wonderful time of year for many people, numerous pets suffer as a result of this festive season. Fortunately, the vast majority of this suffering can be avoided by learning about potential holiday hazards for pets and taking the appropriate actions.

Pets as Gifts
Pets are many things. They are loyal companions, trusting friends and sentient, intelligent animals. They are much of what is good in the world. What they are not are gifts!

There has been so much coverage given regarding the incredible suffering (animal and human) created when people give pets as gifts. Yet these innocent animals, many of whom live for 15-20 years, continue to be given to unsuspecting recipients as if they were a box of candies! If you are contemplating giving someone a sensitive, living, breathing "present" - don’t! You might be putting an animal’s life in jeopardy and the recipient of the gift might resent being put in a difficult situation or resent you for putting them in that situation.

If you want to surprise someone with a pet, surprise them with the idea of adopting an animal companion instead. Wrap an item that the animal will require and give that to the recipient of the gift. If they actually want a pet then they can go to their local animal shelter or pound and personally select their new family member at an appropriate time. This should only occur after they have researched the responsibilities and commitments involved and they are sure that they want and can properly raise and care for their new friend for his/her entire life.

Some items that a pet will need or which might make a thoughtful gift include: bowls, leash, collar, bed, pet care books (including those on adopting pets from shelters), crate. The Humane Society of Canada (www.humanesociety.com) sells a quality first aid kit for animals that would make an excellent present. If you give one of these items to someone who ultimately doesn’t adopt a pet, a thoughtful gesture would be to give the item to the local animal shelter or to someone who could use it.

Christmas Can Be a Good Time to Adopt
For those who have been considering adopting an animal companion, Christmas can be a good time to welcome a new member into the family.  Vacations where families have extra time to help their adopted friend adjust to his/her human guardians and surroundings can be beneficial for everyone.  Just make sure you have plenty of time to spend with your companion in a relatively quiet environment. To increase the chances for a successful relationship, there are some things which should be considered. Some of these are listed below.

• Does everyone in the family want to adopt a pet at this time? Adopting a sentient being is a huge responsibility and one the whole family should agree on.
• Are you prepared for a long-term relationship? Many dogs live for 15 years or more, cats can live for 20 years or more.
• Can you afford to care for an animal companion? To learn about costs associated with raising a nonhuman family member you should talk to employees at a veterinary hospital, pet supply store as well as relatives and friends. There are also excellent books available on raising animal companions which will help (see Reviews - Adopting Pets With A Past). Remember you will also likely have some unexpected costs from time to time which you should be prepared to pay for.
• Are you allowed to have an animal companion where you are living? Many four-legged family members are dumped at shelters and pounds because they were not permitted where their human family was staying. If you move are you prepared to live where nonhuman animals are permitted?
• If you already have animal companions, are they likely to get along? You might try introducing your resident four-legged family members to the animal companion who you are considering adopting in a safe, neutral location. Remember that it often takes a period of time for animals to get used to one another.
• Are you familiar with what is involved with raising an animal friend? Many relationships between animals and their humans fail because the animals’ guardians are ignorant of what is involved with properly raising an animal companion.

Festive Hazards to Beware of
There is no shortage of dangerous items that companion animals can get into at Christmas. Decorations, food and plants are some of the things that may seem harmless, but which could be very harmful to dogs, cats and other animal companions. Some festive items that can be harmful include the following.

Christmas Tree
Problems can arise when pets have access to the Christmas tree. Cats can climb the tree while dogs may knock it over. The tree should be safely secured at the top and the bottom and all the electrical cords and wires should be made inaccessible to pets. If you have a real tree, don’t allow your pets access to the tree’s reservoir and don’t use tree preservatives in the water.

Toxic Plants
Many plants associated with Christmas can be harmful to pets (and humans.) While some of the plants have a low toxicity, others are very toxic and can result in death. The following are some "Christmas plants" that can harm companion animals. Since it is important to err on the side of caution, refrain from having toxic plants in and around your home (or, at the very least, ensure that they are inaccessible to pets and children.) If you are not sure if a particular plant is toxic or harmful, you can obtain more information from books, from the Internet or from your veterinarian.

Some Christmas Plants That Are Harmful to Pets
Mistletoe
Holly
Ivy
Poinsettia
Christmas Rose
Christmas Cactus
Lily
Star of Bethlehem
Yew
Jerusalem Cherry
Hibiscus
Jequirity Bean
Christmas green (e.g. pine, cedar)

Decorations
While adding a festive atmosphere, some decorations can be harmful to pets. Decorations that can break into little pieces should not be used. Ribbon and tinsel, which can cause gastrointestinal blockages, should also be avoided. Evergreen needles, from the Christmas tree or from decorative boughs, which have fallen should be immediately cleaned up as they can cause problems for pets if ingested.

Candles & Fire
Pets can be burned by candles. A fire can also be started if a lit candle is knocked over. So, if you have pets (or young children) you should avoid using candles.

A nice fire in the hearth or wood stove, while enjoyable, can also harm pets. Use common sense to ensure that your animal companions are not injured by fire - or accidentally start one!

Food
Many "human foods" are harmful to pets. Chocolate is toxic to animals. So too are onions (and other members of the onion family) which cause a condition known as Heinz body hemolytic anemia - which can be fatal.

Pets should not be given bones as they can splinter and lodge in an animal’s throat or intestine. Turkey and chicken bones are particularly brittle.

Some Gift Ideas for Pets
Companion animals enjoy receiving gifts too! A few practical items that you can give your pets are microchip identification and/or an identification tag. LuckyPet offers quality tags as well as the added protection of their 24-hour "Owner Alert" service (www.luckypet.com). Pet insurance can be another practical item that you can get for your animal companions.

There are also a variety of toys and other fun or comfortable gifts that your pets will enjoy. Just make sure that the items are safe. Quality beds are often popular with our canine and feline friends.

Time & Love - The Most Important Gifts of All
All of the toys and treats in the world cannot make up for love and attention. Since the Christmas season often brings with it a hectic pace, make sure that you set aside some quality time each day for your four-legged family members. Take your canines for a walk where you can get some exercise and unwind from the seasonal festivities. Give your feline friends a safe toy and participate in the enjoyment of the gift. When you need a rest curl up on the couch with your pets.

A Final Word
Christmas is a special time of year. It is also a busy time that can result in new situations where pets can suffer. Ensure that your pets are protected and take the time to educate others about Christmas hazards that pets may be exposed to. After all, animal welfare is everyone’s responsibility. Merry Christmas!