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Easter WarningsHELP PREVENT EASTER CRUELTY
SANTA BARBARABaby bunnies, chicks, and ducks, often recognized as symbols of Easter, frequently become the victims of unintended cruelty and neglect during this time of the year. These adorable little animals, which are available at many pet stores throughout the community, should not be regarded as toys but instead as living pets in need of responsible caring families.
Easter Sunday can be a very festive time for the family, but a very traumatic occasion for a fragile baby animal. Small children often mishandle the little creatures causing broken bones or other fatal injuries. It's never a good idea to bring home a new family pet during an exciting, and often hectic, holiday or birthday celebration. On the contrary, pets should be introduced to our families during calm periods when we can provide the most nurturing care to help them adjust to our households.
Many people act on impulse when purchasing the "holiday pet" for the family. As with any new pet, family members ought to consider many different factors before bringing home a baby bunny, chick, or duck. How long will they live? How big will they get? What kind of daily care is required? Sadly, once many families realize the work involved in caring for one of these animals, or when the excitement of the holiday wears off, these pets are often discarded, either relinquished to animal shelters or abandoned.
The Santa Barbara Humane Society encourages you to resist the urge to bring home a baby rabbit, chick, or duck this Easter. Instead, you can help prevent Easter cruelty by giving your little ones stuffed toy animals or an animal book. And, after the holiday, if your family is ready for a new pet, consider adopting a homeless pet from an animal shelter.
For more information on pet care, pet adoptions, or animal welfare, please stop by the Santa Barbara Humane Society at 5399 Overpass Rd., or call 964-4777. The Santa Barbara Humane Society is a local non-profit organization.
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July 4th WarningsFOURTH OF JULY
PET SAFETY TIPS
The Santa Barbara Humane Society would like to remind pet owners that upcoming Fourth of July festivities are dangerous and frightening for animals. Please take pets inside your home and supervise them carefully throughout the night. If you won't be home to reassure your companion animals, confine them to the garage or other windowless room. This is an effort to reduce injury to your pets and to your home should the loud noises become too frightening. Special care and precaution will make the Fourth of July a pleasant holiday for all family members.
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Halloween WarningsTHE SANTA BARBARA HUMANE SOCIETY OFFERS TIPS AND WARNINGS TO HELP PROTECT YOUR PETS THIS HALLOWEEN
SANTA BARBARAThis Halloween, the Santa Barbara Humane Society would like to remind you that while this can be one of the most fun holidays for kids and grownups, it could be a very difficult evening for pets if you don't take some precautions. To help ensure a safe and successful Halloween for your pets, the Humane Society offers the following tips.
The best place for pets on Halloween evening is inside the house, away from the activity, especially away from the door where they might be inclined to slip out, unescorted. The constant intrusion of ghouls and goblins can be very stressful and disruptive to your pet's routine. A particular caution is given to owners of black cats; the mythology about black cats being related to witches can lead strange people to do strange things to them. Even kids who mean no harm may yell when they see a black cat, scaring the cat much more than the cat is scaring them.
Tasty Halloween treats can be dangerous to your pets. Don't feel compelled to share your Halloween bounty with your animal friends, and be sure to store these goodies in a place where your pet can't reach them. Pets don't need the refined sugar in their diet, and chocolate can be quite poisonous to dogs. In the spirit of Halloween, some pet owners will treat their pets by stocking up on dog biscuits or chew toys for dogs, or catnip toys for cats - treats with no tricks attached.
Please contact the Santa Barbara Humane Society at 805-964-4777 for more information.
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Thanksgiving Warnings
THANKSGIVING THREATS
Thanksgiving is near, and the Santa Barbara Humane Society would like to share some helpful holiday planning tips offered by the American Humane Association.
Your fabulous feast lay before you on that most food-oriented holiday of allThanksgiving! And those beseeching, soulful eyes of your pet look at you with adoration and hunger. Can you refuse? Yes! Sometimes generosity can lead to injury.
Here are some things to be careful of during the Thanksgiving holidays.
·Too many fatty, rich, or even just new types of foods can give your pet pancreatitis or gastroenteritis. Both can be very painful or become quite serious, so go easy on the tidbits.
·Bones can tear up or obstruct your pets' innards. Cooked turkey bones are especially harmful because they are hollow and can easily splinter in your pet's mouth.
·And that tasty string often used to tie up the turkey during roasting can tie up your pets' insides too (as can the bag your turkey came in or the little red "popper").
·Onions, often abundantly found in stuffing, damage a dog's red blood cells, leading to anemia.
·Too much chocolate, especially baking chocolate, can actually kill your dog, so keep it all out of reach.
To show your pet how thankful you are to have them as part of your family, give them a feast of their ownperhaps a treat of canned pet food, a catnip treat, a special chewy, or a few tablespoons of peanut butter stuffed in a favorite "tube" toy (provides at least a half hour of entertainment). And when those eager eyes look at the loaded dining-room table, remember that your feast is not fit for your pet...and then give thanks for your pets' healthy appetite!
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Holiday Warnings
HOLIDAY GIFT IDEAS FOR THE ANIMAL LOVER ON YOUR LIST
SANTA BARBARA--The Santa Barbara Humane Society would like to remind you that live animals do not make appropriate gifts. Too often, the recipients of these "gifts" are not prepared to take on the responsibility of caring for an animal. Sadly, after the holiday season, every animal shelter, including the Santa Barbara Humane Society, is inundated with these unwanted, yet well-intended, pet animals. Besides, to a small puppy or kitten arriving in a household during the holidays, the excitement and cheer will be strange and frightening.
So, instead of actually giving a pet, why not consider these suggestions:
*Gift-wrap a stuffed animal and a box filled with needed pet supplies--leashes, toys, and dishes --along with a gift certificate for the adoption of a pet from the Santa Barbara Humane Society. By doing so, you give the fun of something to open as well as the gift of choosing a new special friend.
*For a child, consider books or videos about a favorite animal. Allow the child the opportunity to learn some interesting facts about animal care, and then plan a family outing to adopt a pet--after the excitement of the holiday season wears off.
*For someone who already has a pet, consider a membership to the Santa Barbara Humane Society. Memberships start at $15.00 per year and come with tremendous benefits--access to low-fee vaccinations for dogs and cats, access to our dog and cat boarding facilities, and a membership newsletter three times a year--plus the good feeling of knowing that the member is helping homeless pets in our community.
*Perhaps you might consider a "care package" for a friend's favorite pet animal. Fill a holiday stocking with pet toys and treats, or maybe a new leash and collar set, designer food bowls, or a new blanket.
For further information, please call 964-4777 or visit us at 5399 Overpass Road.
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"PET-PROOFING" YOUR HOUSE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
SANTA BARBARA--The Santa Barbara Humane Society would like to remind you to see things from the perspective of your pets when decorating your house for the holiday festivities. While we enjoy the fun of setting up and admiring the beautiful colors and lights, many holiday items can be hazardous to the household animals. Keeping these suggestions in mind will allow everyone, including our four-legged friends, to have a safe and happy holiday season.
*Tinsel and garland are indigestible. If you use either, do so out of the reach of pets.
*Glass balls placed low can be tempting and attract the attention of a curious pet, and, if broken, can cause a lot of harm.
*Electrical cords must be concealed from rabbits and other small animals that chew. The House Rabbit Society offers this tip: You can conceal exposed cords by encasing them in plastic tubing (found at hardware stores). By splitting the tubing lengthwise with a utility knife, the cord can be pushed inside it.
*Burning candles and fireplaces should be supervised at all times.
*Holiday plants such as Poinsettia and Mistletoe can be poisonous to animals and should be kept out of harm's way.
For further information, please call 964-4777 or visit us at 5399 Overpass Road.
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