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Thinking about Fostering a Pet This Christmas?

Opening your heart and home to a furry friend in need is the perfect way to spread joy during the holiday season. Many dogs and cats are hoping for a temporary sanctuary or a forever home, and they have so much love to share in return. Here are some ways you can make a difference during the holidays:

• Support Your Friends: Offer to pet-sit for friends traveling to see family. This helps them enjoy their holiday while ensuring their beloved pet receives loving care.

• Foster or Volunteer at a Local Shelter: Fostering provides animals with a peaceful break from the stress of shelter life.

Positive takeaways:

• Fostering is also an excellent way to test the waters of pet ownership. It allows you to experience the joys and responsibilities of caring for an animal without a long-term commitment.

• When you're ready to adopt, consider these two fantastic not-for-profit organizations dedicated to finding loving homes for pets:

Adopt a Pet: Search for pets available in your area.

Pet finder: Search for pets available in your area.

 😺Pet Care Options for Holiday Travel: Boarding vs. Pet Sitting 🐶

Traveling without your furry friend this holiday season? Choosing between boarding and pet sitting can be challenging. Let's break down the pros and cons to help you make the best decision.

 Boarding: Pros and Cons

 Pros:

- Cost-effective for longer trips (typically $40-$60 per night)

- Trained staff on-site

- Access to veterinary care

- Fun amenities like play areas and spa services

 Cons:

- Potential stress for pets unfamiliar with group settings

- Risk of disease transmission

- Possibility of animal conflicts

 Choosing a Boarding Facility

- Research local options

- Get recommendations from friends and family

- Visit facilities in person

- Check cleanliness and space

- Consider a trial stay before your trip

- Consult your veterinarian for advice

Pet Sitting: Pros and Cons

 Pros:

- Pets remain in their comfortable home environment

- Reduced exposure to other animals

- Personalized care from a familiar face

 Cons:

- More expensive (up to hundreds of dollars for overnight care)

- Inconsistent quality of care

- Potential reliability issues

 Selecting the Right Pet Sitter

- Research thoroughly

- Ask for referrals

- Interview potential sitters

- Introduce them to your pet

- Provide detailed care instructions

- Request regular updates

- Look for qualities like: Experience, Patience, Reliability, and Flexibility

 Key Considerations:

- Ensure the sitter can provide dedicated attention

- Discuss emergency contacts

- Clarify expectations upfront

 Pro Tip: The best pet sitter will make both you and your pet feel comfortable and secure.

Pet Humor

🐶 Homemade Holiday Treats for Fito 🐶

The holiday season brims with joy, bringing families together and filling homes with delectable homemade treats. While we delight in these culinary creations, pet owners must exercise caution: sharing human foods with dogs and cats can pose serious health risks. Despite the temptation to include our furry companions in festive feasting, most holiday treats are potentially harmful to pets.

Seemingly innocent human foods can trigger significant medical complications for animals. Holiday dishes are typically rich in dangerous ingredients for pets, including excessive sugar, salt, and unhealthy fats. Moreover, certain common ingredients can be outright toxic to dogs and cats, making it crucial to maintain strict dietary boundaries during celebrations.

Here is an easy recipe to make the holidays more festive for Fito:

Pumpkin Peanut Butter Cookies for Dogs 

Ingredients:

2-3 cups flour

1 cup peanut butter (xylitol-free)

2 cups plain canned pumpkin

Directions:

Add flour gently while mixing the other ingredients in a bowl. Keep in mind that you should only use enough flour to bring the ingredients together into a dough-like consistency.

Form cookies into bone shapes or get creative with cookie cutters.

Add the cookie shapes to a parchment-covered cookie sheet.

Bake at 350°F for 10-12 minutes or until firm. Cooking time may vary based on thickness and oven.

Let cool before treating Fito.

News for Pet Owners and Animal Lovers:

• Recalls: December 2, 2024: Blue Ridge Beef is recalling 9,600 lbs. of their 2 lb log Puppy Mix Lot #08/06/N25 & 08/16/N25 UPC 854298001696 due to a contamination of Salmonella. Retailers in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, and Virginia sold the Puppy Mix in question, according to the notice. Blue Ridge distributes to 33 states so expect this to expand.

• Sugar-Free Peanut Alert: Some new sugar-free peanut butters are using Xylitol instead of sugar. Xylitol can be toxic for dogs. Check the labels.

• Flying With Your Pet: If you decide to fly with your pet, you will need to fill out specific forms. Whether your pet is a service animal or not, and whether it is traveling in the cabin or cargo, you should call your airline before purchasing your ticket to find out which paperwork is required. You should also talk with your veterinarian about how your pet will do on the plane. Your veterinarian can prescribe drugs to help with stress, but some pets are not well suited for flying.

Inspiring Animal Stories

American Humane has crowned their 2024 Hero Dog of the Year

Bo is an 18-month-old male Bloodhound who has been credited for finding lost children as well as lost seniors while working with his handler for the Gastonia Police Department in North Carolina.

Life Hacks and Trivia

• The World’s Oldest Dog? The world's oldest dog lived till 29.5 years old. While the average lifespan of a dog is approximately 10-15 years, 'Bluey', an Australian cattle dog, achieved a remarkable age of 29.5 years.

• Have you ever pondered why sighing provides a sense of relief? Your body uses sighing as an intelligent action, not just a random habit! When you sigh, tiny little lung friends known as alveoli get a good, healthy stretch, and that helps you stay healthy.

• Chapped Lips Fix: This winter, your used green tea bags will keep your lips from getting chapped. Take a green tea bag and soak it in water if your lips are dry and cracked. Once it's nice and wet, press it against your lips slowly for five minutes.

  Green tea has a lot of healing and antioxidant qualities that can help keep your lips moist and healthy. If you want to get rid of chapped lips naturally, try this quick and simple trick. It will leave your lips feeling soft and hydrated.

Pet Pro Tip:

Introduce dietary changes gradually and monitor your pet's response. Regular veterinary check-ups can help fine-tune nutritional strategies for maximum health benefits.

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