A huge thank you goes to our volunteers who give so much to make our Shire a place of responsible pet ownership!  We know that many locals  support the idea of  “Adopt, don’t Shop” for pets this Christmas, and we want to thank the regional media and especially Zoe Cartwright for her series on Furr-ever Friends which spreads this idea.

If you advice or information on pet adoptions, please check out the websites for available pets or phone the AWL Eurobodalla Branch on 0410 016 612.

Christmas is nearly here and we are all busy buying presents, decorating the house and the Christmas tree.

However, we also need to think of our pets, and their safety.

Cats love exploring and would love to climb that Christmas tree, and knock off ornaments tinsel etc and that over-enthusiastic dog may well love to jump up and knock it over so it may be best to keep your pet out of the room unless supervised. 

Tinsel is sparkly and as it hangs from the branches it makes a very attractive plaything but it is possibly the most dangerous holiday decoration for your pet.

If your pet ingests even a few strands of tinsel, they are highly likely to suffer a possible intestinal obstruction which may require a vet trip. Knocked off ornaments may get broken and cause cuts to feet etc. so maybe keep your tree room door shut at night so that that wonderful new play thing is kept out of reach.

If your tree has lights, make sure the electrical lead is well hidden as it will be a very tempting play toy for your new puppy or kitten. 

Also, sometimes we hang candy canes or chocolate ornaments on the tree, both of which a very sensitive nose will easily find. Candy canes are high in sugar and may upset a tummy and as we all know chocolate is poisonous to dogs and cats as it contains a substance called theobromine.

And best not to leave that box of chocolates present unattended under the tree, as someone may also eat some of the wrapping paper which may again cause an intestinal obstruction.

Pets can also be poisoned by other Christmas food like fruit cake, mince pies and Christmas puddings as all grapes, raisins, currants and sultanas are toxic to dogs. And don't forget those nuts in that cookie.

Just ignore those pleading eyes for that turkey leg bone; now that it is cooked it is brittle and will splinter when chewed, possibly causing internal problems.  Plus, alcohol can be toxic to a small pet even in a small amount. 

One should also take care if you have a "fresh" Christmas tree as it may have been chemically treated to give it a longer life, and those branches may be very tempting to chew on. Other floral arrangements like lilies, and poinsettias can be toxic to your pet if ingested.  

If your pet shows any signs of being unwell, contact your local vet immediately.

May you and your pet have a wonderful, safe and happy Christmas.