Cautionary Tails: How To Keep Your Dogs Safe In MA This Holiday Season

SALEM, MA — While the holidays are a time for family get-togethers and festive food spreads they can become perilous times for dogs that are not used to being around crowds indoors or have access to potentially dangerous foods and other sharp objects associated with the season.

MSPCA-Angell on Wednesday shared with Patch the cautionary tale of a 9-month-old pit bull terrier named Bob who is recovering from surgery to remove a food skewer from his stomach and is now looking for his forever home.

Ipswich Animal Control also sent out an advisory when it comes to including your puppy in what can be boisterous indoor events involving many family and friends to make sure everyone has a safe and happy holiday.

"The holidays are a really hectic time for many," MSPCA-Angell Director of Adoption Centers and Programs Mike Keiley said. "It's not uncommon that our pets will get ahold of something they shouldn't when we aren't looking and, in many cases, including Bob's, it can be really dangerous."

MSPCA-Angell said that when Bob was surrendered on Nov. 15 he was a seemingly normal dog but that it soon became apparent that he was in pain. Imaging at Angell revealed a wooden skewer commonly used in food preparation.

"It seems that Bob ate the skewer and it pierced his stomach — something that is usually immediately clear and requires urgent care," Keiley said. "But there are rare instances like this one where something small and sharp pierces the stomach wall, but the stomach wall then heals on its own, making the problem much harder to detect."

"We don't know when Bob actually ate the skewer, it could have been months ago," he added. "But, we're lucky we caught it when we did and had access to the technology and skilled doctors needed to save this homeless puppy."

Keiley said that Bob's story is a good example of why it is a good idea for pet owners to have insurance.

The good news for Bob is that he is recovering well and is now available for adoption.

"Bob's been through a lot in the last week or so, but he's been a sweet pup throughout the whole ordeal," Keiley said. "We know he'll be a wonderful pet for the right adopters, and we're hoping he can find them as soon as possible."

Interested adopters can apply here or visit the Boston Adoption Center on Tuesday through Sunday from noon to 3 p.m.

For those who already have a dog that may be making the holiday rounds for the first time, Ipswich Animal Control cautions that there has already been an uptick in animal bites on the North Shore and "sadly, this is pretty routine from around Thanksgiving through New Year's."

Ipswich Animal Control offers tips to help those get-togethers go smoothly, which include: setting up a crate, dog bed, or a room off limits to people where the dog can go to decompress, making sure adults know they need to watch their "tiny humans" around the dog as the dog owner watches the puppy, and to not be afraid to say "no."

"Sorry, no, you can't bring your dog, it's just too stressful," Ipswich Animal Control said. "Sorry, no, you or your kids can't pet the dog. Sorry, no, you or your kids can't feed the dog."

It is advised to have an entry and exit plan ready so the dog does not arrive to 15 people jammed in the doorway, which may be overstimulating, or has a chance to run out when the door opens for others leaving.

"For the love of Santa Claus himself, stop putting babies in the position to be bit," Ipswich Animal Control said. "Putting babies in places where high-strung or interested dogs can reach them is not cute. All it takes is that little baby accidentally hitting or grabbing fur, or making a high-pitched noise for that 'super adorable' photo op to turn into a call to 911 and a trip to children's hospital for facial reconstruction."

It is also advised the children understand it is good to be around the animals, but that they don't have to play and pet all of them, to keep their faces away from a dog's face or cat's claws, and that children eat at a table or safe place above where a dog cannot grab food from hands or plates.

"This time of year gives all in this profession constant heartburn, so many incidents are preventable if we as people stop, think and make a plan," Ipswich Animal Control said.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)