How Sandy Springs Residents Can Keep Pets Safe Over the Holidays

It’s that time of year! The holidays are filled with family, gifts and goodies for many, but they also bring increased dangers for your pets. Here are some things to consider to keep your pets safe over the holidays.

Decorations look like play things.

Dogs and cats think that decorations look like fun. They often like way light reflects off shiny ornaments or tinsel, and they may try to play with these. The problem is that broken ornaments and tinsel often end up getting eaten by them and can cause choking, internal lacerations and more. To avoid these dangers, don’t use tinsel and be sure to place glass ornaments up higher on the tree. Also, teach your cats not to climb the tree (try using a spray bottle filled with water), so they won’t knock the decorations off and play with them.

Watch Out for Cords.

Is your dog or cat a chewer? Then watch them carefully around your hanging holiday lights to avoid electric shock. And be sure to use a grounded three-prong extension cord as a safety precaution.

Plants

Many plants are poisonous to cats and dogs, including any lily (lethal for cats), poinsettias, holly, pine needles and mistletoe. Minimize the danger by keeping the plants out of their reach, and keep your pets away from your Christmas tree.

Food

With extra treats sitting around there are extra opportunities for your pet to sneak a snack. Some treats can be toxic to pets though, including pure chocolate, artificial sweetners and macadamia nuts. So don’t leave treats sitting out if you aren’t around.

What? You don’t have a pet to worry about over the holidays? Well LifeLine Animal Project is glad to help! We’ve got three shelters full of wonderful animals waiting for homes at LifeLine Animal Project’s Avondale shelter and our Fulton and DeKalb County Animal Services shelters. Below are two of them - amazing cats that you can adopt today under our “Home for the Pawlidays” special for only $10 each!

Fulton County Animal Services Pets of the Week: Toast and Kincade

Meet Toast, a little black kitten who is five months old and completely adorable. Toast has a cute personality that is a combination of playful and affectionate. At any given moment, this sweet little boy can be seen chasing balls around the cat colony room, cuddling with other kitties or napping on a visitor’s lap. He is litter trained and would make the perfect kitten for any family. And you can adopt Toast during December for only $10, including his neuter, vaccines and microchip!

If you’re looking for an adult cat, then you’ll want to meet Kincade, an elegant guy who will impress you with his regal nature and handsome looks. Kincade is a mellow boy who enjoys hanging out with people and who gets along well with other cats. He’d be the perfect boy for any family’s castle. Kincade can be yours for only $10 if you adopt him during December!

To meet Toast or Kincade, just drop by the shelter, email adoptions@fultonanimalservices.com or call 404-613-0357. To view dogs or cats available for adoption, please visit the shelter at 860 Marietta Blvd NW, Atlanta, 30318 or go to www.fultonanimalservices.com/adopt.