Holiday Safety, Travel Tips for Your Dog

SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ — With the holidays here, it is important to remember to take safety precautions for your pet.

Jessica Sapienza, store manager for K-9 Resorts Daycare & Luxury Hotel in Fanwood is offering safety and travel tips for your beloved pooch.

For pet owners who are staying home, it may be safer and easier to board your dog, Sapienza suggests:

• Many potential hazards to animals in the home
• Small holiday decorations & tree ornaments can be a choking hazard
• Poinsettias are extremely poisonous to dogs and are most commonly found during th eholidays around the home
• If you are busy cleaning and cooking you are not paying as much attention to the dogs and they can get into the decorations, gifts, plants, food and become destructive to get more attention.
• Easier for you to finish your busy schedule around holiday preparations when not having to worry about taking care of the dog and/or cleaning around the dogs mess.
• It will more than likely be too cold to keep your dog outdoors while you are preparing for guests or once guests arrive
• Your pet may have increased anxiety with many people in your home. This can lead to destructive behavior (stealing food or gifts from guests) or urination or defecation in the home
• Children and guests in general can be a hazard to your dog. Not everyone will be accustomed to having a dog if they do not have one of their own. Your guests could leave the door open without thinking; they may be allergic to your pet or possible just not like dogs.

For people travelling with dogs:

• Dogs may not do well in cars (nausea, vomiting, upset stomach)
• Accommodations on a plane are less than appealing
• They may not do well in a strangers home and may get anxious and destructive.
• Difficult to find a pet friendly hotel without restrictions
• The home you are going to may not be accustomed to having a pet in the house, therefore all the aforementioned hazards will be multiplied for someone unknowledgeable of dogs and their needs.
• If they do have a pet, yours and their pet may not get along together which causes stress for everyone.

(Image via Shutterstock)

Have a news tip? Email alexis.tarrazi@patch.com.

Get Patch breaking news alerts sent right to your phone with our new app. Download here.