Happy Safe Holidays

My, oh my, such a busy time for many people and now I am suggesting you take time to evaluate your holiday plans for your companion animals.

Most important is your stress level. Our animals are so sensitive to our vibes that actual symptoms may appear. Do your best to find ways to be calm during these times. Each animal has a different tolerance level, so first think back to prior years – were they fine or were they challenged. Maybe they became ill, or were hiding a lot, or being over reactive. Now you can look for ways to avert possible problems, which will help you be calmer. From now through the new year, be sure to spend more “Happiness Minutes” with them. Not necessarily more time, just focus positively with the time you have. While on a walk, ignore your phone if possible and observe how they are doing. If more agitated or a bit too slow, consider how you are doing. If hiding, make their hidey spot comfy, then see if your relaxing a bit allows them to be out more. Take a deep breath, pet them for 2 minutes, very slowly – several times a day. 

Plan ahead for the company who will be coming. You know each animal so well, that with forethought you can help them retreat, behave and enjoy their time. If the door bell triggers them, put a welcome sign that says ‘come on in” and tape over the bell. If just people coming in is a trigger, schedule a time out period when people are arriving, with music, food, someone hanging out with them. If they tend to escape, you may need a crate, pen, or leash around your waist. Try now to train them well so none of that is necessary. The more healthy and vital is an animal, the less they will be bothered. Flower/vibrational essences like Rescue Remedy, Stress Stopper can be put in vases around the house, rubbed on the animals, diluted and given to people and animals. Young children who may not be aware that they are being too rough

Decorations can be a problem, especially if this is a new animal and you are not sure what they may want to eat or play with. Possible safety tips:

• Stabilize the tree so it cannot fall over

• Put the tree in a play pen to keep the dogs out. 

• Use just water, or put mesh over the water bowl if using chemicals so the tree stays fresh. Maybe only have the tree up for a few days. 

• Put no or unbreakable decorations to the height the animal could reach

• Tinsel ONLY where no cat or dog could ingest it, or leave it off totally

• Avoid common holiday plants like poinsettias, lilies, amaryllis, mistletoe, and research or sequester any gifts of new plants.   

• Fires – candles (I caught my parka trim on fire at a Girl Scout party from a candle on the newel post and had to drop and roll!); live fireplaces. There are great battery operated “candles” now. 

• Decorations on packages, ribbons, tiny toys, dreidels, and more can be very enticing. The boxes are wonderful toys. Be observant. 

• Tape down electric cords and unplug when not needed. 

Pretend you are your dog or your cat (children love doing this), get down (or up) to their level and think what could be happening at an event or even day to day with how you are decorating.