Our pets always have a favorite toy and a favorite spot to hang out at in your home. The favorite toy might be a stuffed animal or something as strange as an old sock. The favorite spot could be an enclosed porch perfect for sunbathing or the top of a couch by the door. With the holidays only weeks away and decorations starting to take, it is important to be mindful of your pet while changing your home into a winter wonderland. Some decorations may cramp your pet’s favorite spot or replace their favorite toy for a little bit. No one wants to have to come home to ripped-up decorations or a misplaced tree. Before looking into South Jersey dog daycare providers for the holiday season, check out these decorating tips that are pet-friendly.
Avoid Holly Decorations
A common decoration that can be seen in homes around this time of the year is live mistletoes and holly. Live mistletoes and holly provide for a warm atmosphere but are extremely poisonous if ingested. Digestability should be looked at before bringing any new plant into your home because pets might think it’s a safe snack. Silk plants are a safe alternative to include in your holiday decorations.
Lighting The Room Safely
Live candles and light fixtures are popular in different rooms to provide a festive atmosphere, especially at night. However, certain locations in your home might be prone to a pet knocking them over onto the floor or even a flammable object which can get out of control very quickly. Instead of using live candles, battery-operated candles are a lot safer to have around your home rather than a live flame. If you really want or need to use live candles, be mindful of where they are being placed in your home.
Reinforce Your Tree
For many, your tree is the heart of house decorations and requires the most energy. Many ornaments and lights have immense meaning to families and are made out of high-quality materials. Glass and wire ornaments placed low or improperly on the tree could spell for trouble around your pets. The wire is used to hang the ornaments in most cases but can easily cut a pet if it falls onto the floor. Glass ornaments could be knocked off branches and lead to broken glass surrounding the tree. These are things to keep in mind. Ornaments should be chosen wisely as well. Many ornaments are small enough to look like tasty snacks when in reality, they are choking hazards for your pets. Avoid very small ornaments such as popcorn, candy, nuts, and so forth.
Aside from ornaments, be sure to properly reinforce the base of your tree. It is common for pets to go under the tree to hang out or to simply explore. While your pets are underneath the tree, the tree can be prone to be knocked over which can damage a room and set back decorating for the holidays by a lot. The base of the tree should be reinforced by heavyweights and tree support stands if needed.
If you have any questions or concerns regarding your pet and the holidays, give Halo House Animal Resort a call at 856-694-0980!