Romeo, The Black Wolf

Pet Holiday Safety

During the holiday season, celebrations and decorations can translate to pet safety hazards and it's not uncommon to see accidents related to foreign body ingestion, bone fractures and electric shock occur. 

COLD WEATHER DANGERS

Outdoor cats may seek warmth under the hood of a car. To avoid a surprise in cold weather, always check for sleeping cats. 

Bringing outdoor animals inside creates its own risks due to drier air and lower humidity in the winter months.  Brush pets more frequently and contact a veterinarian about introducing dietary supplements or prescribing a moisturizer.

SAFE PROOFING A HOLIDAY HOME

Trees provide a great temptation for cats to climb and dogs to chew on, so holiday trees should be well secured to prevent accidents. Also, pets should not drink tree water, which may cause gastrointestinal upset.

Holiday ornaments should be hung out of pets' reach.  Ingestion of ornaments or broken glass (not to mention ribbons and bows) can lead to serious medical emergencies.  Pets, especially cats, can be tempted to eat tinsel, which can block the intestines.

Animals are attracted to bright, moving lights so candles should be kept on high shelves.  Candles as well as fireplaces should be constantly supervised since embers, sparks and wax can injure pets.

Other holiday products that can harm pets include snow globes (many which contain harmful antifreeze) and artificial snow, which can cause reactions if inhaled.

Holiday plants including ivy, holly, mistletoe, hibiscus, poinsettia, lilies and Christmas greens all have various levels of toxicity.  Position these high off the ground to avoid dangerous ingestion mishaps.

HOLIDAY TREATS

Fatty meats, gravies and poultry skin can cause pancreatitis, gastritis, enteritis, colitis and other gastrointestinal problems.  Bones put pets at risk for bowel obstruction or perforation and choking. No chocolate for four-legged friends.  It contains theobromine, which is highly toxic to dogs and cats when eaten in even small quantities. Pets can celebrate with home-cooked dog and cat treats.  Recipes are available on the Internet.

PETS AND PARTIES

An influx of holiday guests may frighten or agitate animals, making them more prone to barking or even biting. Find a quiet room away from the crowd that pets can have to themselves.

Pets can easily slip out through an open door as guests come and go -- keep a steady eye on pets and be sure they are wearing current identification tags.

Have questions about pet care? Always consult your veterinarian.

Caturday

As anyone who has ever been around a cat

for any length of time well knows,

cats have enormous patience

with the limitations of the human mind.

― Cleveland Amory

Agreeable Friends

Animals are such agreeable friends – 

they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms. 

– George Eliot

The Veterinarian's Prayer

Ring The Doorbell

RIP Mr. President

In Memoriam

Miss You
Sully, the Service Dog, to President George H. W Bush

Reflect

Take a moment or two for yourself,

just reflect on your path and where it is leading you.

If you are not happy with where it is heading,

choose a new path.

― Nyki Mack

Throwback Thursday

Don’t walk in front of me… I may not follow

Don’t walk behind me… I may not lead

Walk beside me… just be my friend.

― Albert Camus

Our Pets

   🎕🎕🎕🎕🎕🎕🎕🎕🎕🎕🎕🎕🎕🎕🎕🎕🎕🎕🎕🎕🎕🎕🎕
Such short little lives our pets have to spend with us, and they spend most of it waiting for us to come home each day. It is amazing how much love and laughter they bring into our lives and even how much closer we become with each other because of them.

― John Grogan
   🎕🎕🎕🎕🎕🎕🎕🎕🎕🎕🎕🎕🎕🎕🎕🎕🎕🎕🎕🎕🎕🎕🎕

The State Dog of Pennsylvania

The GREAT DANE, (Canis familiaris) was adopted as the state dog of Pennsylvania. 

The next time you visit the Governor's Reception Room in Harrisburg, look for a portrait of William Penn with his Great Dane.

Now a popular pet, the GREAT DANE was a hunting and working breed in frontier Pennsylvania.

GREAT DANES are considered canine GENTLE GIANTS and make great family pets.

               🐕G🐕R🐕E🐕A🐕T🐕
              🐕D🐕A🐕N🐕E🐕S🐕

                       🐕A🐕R🐕E🐕
    🐕A🐕W🐕E🐕S🐕O🐕M🐕E🐕

Politically Speaking

A DOG is like a liberal, he wants to please everybody.

A CAT doesn't really need to know that everybody loves him.

― William Kunstler 

A DOG's Bill of Rights

• I have the right to give and receive unconditional love.
• I have the right to a life that is beyond mere survival.
• I have the right to be trained so that I do not become the prisoner of my misbehavior.
• I have the right to adequate food and medical care.
• I have the right to fresh air and green grass.
• I have the right to socialize with people and dogs outside my own family.
• I have the right to special time with my people.
• I have the right to be bred responsibly if at all.
• I have the right to be foolish and silly, and to make my person laugh.
• I have the right to earn my person's trust and to be trusted in return.
• I have the right to be forgiven.
• I have the right to die with dignity.
• I have the right to be remembered well.

Caturday Clowder

CLOWDER - A group of cats or other small felines.