Caring for your family pets at Christmas time
The Christmas holiday can bring issues of concern to families who already have pets and to families about to obtain pets. The adorable puppies in the mall windows often move people emotionally to buy them on the spot, without thinking about the many responsibilities that having an animal involves. It would be much better for families to decide ahead of time when would be the right time to get a pet. That decision would then be based on factors like the age and maturity of children, the amount of space you have in your home, if you have a garden with room for an animal, and then how much time you have to take them for exercise, etc. Last, but not least, can your family budget afford the food, medicine and regular veterinarian care that all animals need?
Making the right choice can mean life or death to the darling puppy in the window. Every year at Christmas time and in the following weeks, thousands of old and new pets are abandoned when their owners go away for the holidays and feel they cannot afford to pay a kennel, or can find no one to care for their animals. These faithful creatures are put down in shocking numbers every year by distraught shelter workers who have been unable to rehome them. Our animal companions deserve much better than they frequently get. Families that choose wisely know that the animal they choose is now their responsibility for its entire life, through all stages of development. It is important that there is a right fit for the chosen pet, and that requires some thinking ahead.
For instance, if your family is ‘time poor’ then choose an animal that needs the least amount of grooming, not a long haired dog. If you know it is not likely that you will take the time to exercise the dog an hour every day then don’t get a larger dog that needs to run off 20 km of energy every day. Be realistic about your own personality, lifestyle and resources.
In the first few months with your family a new pet will need a lot of attention, behavioural training and socialising to the lifestyle your family lives. It will need its vaccinations, worming, flea control, and heartworm medication closely attended to. It must be thoroughly housebroken. Many experts now recommend that everyone invest in ‘puppy preschool’ and obedience classes. So many young dogs are turned in to the shelters and put down because of behavioural problems that should have been controlled from the start; but this takes time, effort, patience and probably some expense. All of these factors must be considered. You must be willing to commit yourself to the best outcome for your new family member.
Caring for your animals at Christmas requires some awareness of the issues that they are facing. Their predictable routines are likely disrupted by the seasonal activities in the home, with new and different people coming into their space, more noise than usual, perhaps a tree shows appears, there are sparkly decorations to chew on and explore if not kept out of reach, many colourful packages to tear open, offers of biscuits and treats that should probably not be made, etc. Pets can get over-excited and over-stimulated, too, just like children at this time of year. They can eat too much, and the wrong things, and swallow small parts of the décor or toys. They need to be protected from many things all through the holidays.
If you are giving your pet any edible presents make sure the wrapping is edible, too, as they cannot tell the difference and may ingest some materials that will make them sick. Many pets end up at the vet every Christmas due to these sorts of problems, so it is best to plan ahead to ensure you have a kid safe and pet safe home for the holidays!