Pets: A Part of Our Holiday Celebrations

Sally E. Bahner

The recession of 2009 has created a bit of a dichotomy in the pet world. While shelters are experiencing an increase in relinquishments, the American Pet Product Association projects that 2009 spending on pets will top $45 billion, up from a bit over $43 billion in 2008. Although those numbers include primarily food, supplies and over-the-counter medications, you can be sure that the occasional squeaky toy or catnip mouse is included. APPA says its numbers "demonstrate that people are willing to sacrifice on themselves before trimming back on their four-legged friends." Indeed, a survey of this year’s holiday shopping plans by Consumer Reports found that women were more likely to cut back on giving to their spouses than to the family pet.
APPA President Bob Vetere describes all this as part of the "humanizing" trend seen in people’s relationships with their pets. Contributing factors include an increasing number of empty-nest baby boomers and people finding comfort in their pets during these stressful times.
"People want to reward their pets in human terms and even in this economy are still demanding the highest quality products and services," said Vetre.
A recent Associated Press poll of 1,100 people found that 50 percent believe that pets are just as much a part of the family as any other person. That anthropomorphizing extends to the desire to include our pets in holiday festivities. How often do we see photos circulated showing the family dog wearing reindeer antlers?
The extra noise and confusion, however, can be stressful for them. If you’re having a house full of guests, sequester your pets in a quiet room to avoid untimely escapes and accidents – a freaked out cat running across the buffet table or cruising the countertops is not a pretty sight, nor is a dog who begs for bites from guests’ dinner plates.
Keep ribbon, string and wrapping material in a safe place – I know my cats are especially attracted to the curling ribbon. An emergency trip to the veterinarian is not what the holiday budget needs.
Keep safety in mind when selecting holiday decorations. Less than a quarter of people surveyed in an AP-Petside.com poll cited safety as a top consideration when choosing holiday decorations. Electrical cords can be hazardous if your pet is a chewer, and tinsel and pine needles can be deadly if ingested. Secure the tree using an eye hook in the ceiling to prevent it from toppling. My husband tells the story of walking out into the living room one morning to meet his kitten eyeball to eyeball – looking out at him from the Christmas tree.
It’s also a good idea to use only unbreakable ornaments on the lower branches of your tree and, depending on the age and activity level of your pets, forego displaying your grandmother’s antique Santa collection.
The holiday plants, poinsettia, holly and mistletoe, can also be hazardous, as is one of our own favorite food groups, chocolate.
Candlelight is lovely, but can be disastrous around swishing tails and little paws. Do not leave burning candles unattended and think about foregoing them altogether if your pet is extra rambunctious or curious.
Iams Home 4 the Holidays campaign, in conjunction with Petfinder and local shelters, has a goal of finding homes for 1.5 million dogs and cats between now and January 4, 2010. While giving a homeless pet a home for the holiday is a noble idea, it may be best to wait until the after things have calmed down (depending on your household’s level of activity). In anticipation, however, you can visit the shelter and pick out a dog or cat ahead of time then take possession after the holidays. You can also give pet-related gifts, such as a bowl, toys, scratcher, litter box, collar and leash, or comfy bed.
Our kitten Mollie is enjoying a very cool new cat toy by Neko Flies. It’s an interactive fishing pole set-up with various interchangeable toys – furry kritters such as the "kittenator" (Mollie actually growled when playing with it!) and bugs such as the "kragonfly," "kittycada," and "kitarantula." The pole is nice and sturdy and the kritters, which come with a nice long string, are easily attached and detached. Neko Flies is available at Pet Pantry Warehouse in Greenwich or visit www.nekoflies.com.
As a devoted cat person, I’m often asked what my cats are getting for Christmas. My answer? Every day is Christmas for them. 

In the spirit of the season

During this season of giving, be sure to make a donation of food or money to your favorite local shelter or humane association.
Help Willy’s Friends
www.helpwillysfriends.org (accepts donation through Paypal)
East Haven Animal Shelter
183 Commerce St.
East Haven, CT 06512
Greater New Haven Cat Project
www.gnhccp/donations.htm
Forgotten Felines
P.O. Box 734
Clinton, CT 06413
Branford Compassion Club
P.O. Box 768
Branford, CT 06405
Connecticut Humane Society
701 Russell Road
Newington, CT 06111
 Fox Memorial Clinic
701B Russell Road
Newington, CT 06111
American Humane
63 Inverness Dr. East
Englewood, CO 80112
 Humane Society of the United States
2100 L. St., NW
Washington, DC 20037
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
424 East 92nd St.
New York, NY 10128