Pets of the Week
Tips to make the holidays merry and safe for your pets
KENNEBUNK - With the holiday season at hand, the Animal Welfare Society wants you and your companion animals to enjoy this wonderful time.The holidays can be a wonderful time to welcome a new family member into your home. While AWS does not recommend giving animals as surprise presents, a well-planned adoption can truly be a special event at this time of year.
As another option, the AWS offers gift certificates, which can be used for approved adoptions once the house settles down after the holidays.
"What could be better than unwrapping a dog or cat toy and then being able to visit the shelter and find a new friend for life?" asked Program Coordinator Katie Lisnik. "If your family is thinking about adopting for the holidays, please give us a call!"
With the holidays, though, also come some pet hazards that you should be aware of. When treating your pet, a small amount of turkey is healthy for cats and dogs, but refrain from drumsticks and bones, as choking or internal damage can occur. Holiday sweets are very unhealthy for pets, and chocolate can be toxic to animals, so it should be kept well out of their reach.
Holidays are also a time for festive decorations, but some can be dangerous. Poinsettia plants and mistletoe are poisonous when ingested by animals or even small children. Tinsel can cause serious intestinal damage when ingested by animals, and Christmas lights should be strung up out of reach as clawing or chewing on lights can cause electric shock and fraying of these wires becomes a fire hazard.
Holidays are a time for visiting, but high volumes of traffic in and out of households can offer pets the perfect opportunity to sneak outside. Keep a collar and tag on your pets throughout the season, even if they don't normally wear one, as if they are lost in a winter wonderland, a collar and tag will significantly increase their chances of a safe and swift return home.
The shelter is open seven days a week from 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and until 7 p.m. on Thursdays. In addition to the many pets eligible for adoption, the shelter also has merchandise items, cookbooks, gift memberships and gift certificates to fill your holiday shopping list.
"Please visit us soon and help make the holidays a bit brighter for our available animals," Lisnik said. "Happy Holidays from all of us at the Animal Welfare Society!"
