South Pacific County

Humane Society

Animal Shelter

330 Second Street NE,

Long Beach, WA 98631

Phone (360) 642-1180

‘Tis the season, and may it be a merry one for all of you and your pets. But remember this: ‘Tis also now more important than ever to keep an eye on your pets, monitoring their activities during the hustle and bustle of gifts, guests and foul weather. Here are some holiday dangers to remember in order to keep your animals safe and healthy during this chaotic time of the year:

A. Many holiday accessories, while part of the trimmings and festivities of our lives once a year, are strange and new to our pets. Things that we think nothing of, taking them for granted as the colorful traditions of the season, have the allure of newness to many of our pets. They can be extremely enticing, exciting and dangerous to them.

B. Tinsel, string, and ribbon, if swallowed, can cause choking or intestinal blockage. Keep a close eye on your pet if he wanders too close to the Christmas lights – indoors or outdoors. If he or she chews on the electrical cords, the pet could be burned or electrocuted. Rubber bands also can be dangerous, as can the butcher’s webbing used to neatly package some holiday roasts.

C. Many plants – holly, mistletoe, Christmas rose and poinsettias – are toxic to your pets (although poinsettias are not as poisonous as we used to believe, they can cause stomach upset and vomiting). Always keep them out of reach.

D. Be sure your pet has a snug place out of the elements to keep warm. On really cold days allow your pet to come indoors or to a protected area such as a heated garage. Allow them outside only for as long as necessary to exercise and relieve themselves.

E. If you have cats in your neighborhood, remember to bang loudly on your car’s hood or beep your horn before starting it. Cats will often climb under the hoods of cars in an effort to get warm.

F. Beware antifreeze leaks! Cats and dogs are, unfortunately, attracted to the sweet smell and taste of antifreeze, which is deadly if ingested, even in the smallest amounts. Clean up any spills immediately.

G. An occasional treat from your holiday table is usually harmless, but too much “people food” can leave your dog or cat with an upset stomach or worse. Turkey bones are especially dangerous for pets because they can easily splinter and become lodged in the throat, or injure internal organs. Never let your dog or cat have chocolate – it’s toxic to the animal, causing stomach upset and severe diarrhea, and can even result in death!

H. Take extra care with fires, and candles, etc. during this weather. Pets can easily and unknowingly singe their coats, touch hot surfaces causing burns to tender paws, knock over candles, etc. Placing a warning sticker in your window notifying firefighters of the existence of your pets can help in case of a home fire.

We hope these tips will assist you in winterizing your animals, and help keep your holidays safe and happy for everyone!

Don’t forget our membership drive! Yearly membership is $15 for one person and $25 for a family. All proceeds go to provide shelter, food, medicine and needed supplies to keep the animals healthy, happy and safe. Donations of food, kitty litter and pet toys are also appreciated. We’ll be adding special benefits for members this year, so stay tuned!

The South Pacific County Humane Society Animal Shelter is at 330 Second Street NE, next to the County buildings in downtown Long Beach, phone 642-1180. Our mailing address is P.O. Box 101, Long Beach, WA 98631. We’re open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; closed Sunday and Monday. Monthly meetings, open to the public, are at 5:30 p.m. on the second Thursday of every month.