As millions begin plans and preparations for the holidays, national animal-advocacy organizations again offer tips for keeping animals safe during the festive season.
The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (founded by Unitarian Henry Bergh), suggests the following:
- Dangerous foods: Keep your animals on their regular diets throughout the holidays, resisting the temptation to give them spicy or rich food from the table. Please make sure your animals do not have access to any foods that contain
- the artificial sweetener Xylitol (found in some peanut butter, candy, gum, baked goods, and other foods; Xylitol sometimes appears on ingredient lists as “wood sugar,” “birch sugar,” or “birch bark extract”)
- chocolate, coffee, or anything else containing caffeine
- grapes or raisins
- avocado
- citrus
- nuts (especially macadamia nuts)
- onions, garlic, or chives
- alcohol
- coconut or coconut oil
- yeast dough
If your animal consumes one of these items, please watch for such signs as vomiting, diarrhea, lethargy, weakness, depression, tremors, or seizures, and contact a veterinarian or call the ASPCA Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
- Harmful decorations: When decorating, please avoid (or at least make sure your animals do not have access to)
- mistletoe
- poinsettias
- the water in your tree-stand
- unattended burning candles
- tinsel (tempting to cats, it can cause intestinal blockage)
- Snow globes: Please be aware that many snow globes contain ethylene glycol, the sweet-tasting, deadly ingredient in anti-freeze. If a snow-globe breaks or leaks, keep your animals away and immediately do a thorough clean-up.
In addition to these precautions, Humane World for Animals (formerly Humane Society of the United States) offers the following recommendations:
- Protect animals from the cold: Please make sure your animals are inside during cold weather. Provide them with a safe retreat, perhaps their own room with a bed and toys, especially when guests are present or the celebration may be at high volume.
- Remember the risks of fireworks: Fireworks frighten animals, causing many to panic and run away. Please avoid fireworks. If neighbors are using them, or there is a public display nearby, keep your animals safely inside, preferably in a small, enclosed space. Consider using a white noise machine and/or contacting your veterinarian to determine whether medication might be appropriate.
The holidays are a wonderful time to expand your circle of compassion and interconnection to all animals by having plant-based meals. Plans for your delicious dining could begin with the many scrumptious main dishes, soups, sides, and desserts found at https://rainbowplantlife.com/vegan-christmas-recipes/ Prefer to let someone else do the cooking? Call on your favorite healthy grocery retailer to prepare a plant-based holiday dinner with all the fixings!
Happiest of holidays to you and yours, and to all the animals!