Keeping Pets Safe at Holiday Time and Every Day

Don't Forget Your Four-Footed and Finned Friends During the Holiday Rush

They are our best friends, faithful companions and adorable playmates. We spoil them rotten, talk baby talk to them, buy them presents and marvel at how cute and faithful they are. But what about shielding them from hidden dangers? Take a few minutes to keep your furry friends safe and cozy all year long.

Christmas Trees

Christmas trees can present many dangers to household animals. There are electrical currents, pointy branches, tiny ornaments, tinsel and garland. So many temptations for curious mouths to taste.

Last night I plugged in my tree only to find that the lights wouldn't turn on. I grimaced and grunted and tried to find the problem. Finally, I found one of the bulbs on the lower branches was missing. There were also teeth marks on the empty socket. I shuddered at the thought of what could have happened: one of my cats with a new permanent or worse; or an electrical fire while I slept. Thankfully, all was well.

I found the bag of replacement bulbs that I have in my basement and quickly replaced the bulb. I Plugged in the tree, and . . . nothing. So, I got the flashlight and gave the tree a once over. I got down on my belly and checked the outlets behind the tree. Still nothing. Then, finally I spotted the problem. The multi-stranded wire hanging from the lowest strand of lights leading to the (heavy duty) extension cord was half way chewed through.

Oh my gosh! What a scary thought. I have seen so many news stories this year of how quickly Christmas trees can go up in flames. This really scared me.

Unplug It

Today there are those convenient switches to turn your tree on and off. If you have pets, you might not want to use one. Even though you have turned the tree off before you go to bed, there may still be current flowing through the wires. What if one of your pets takes a bite like mine did?

Every night before bed, I unplug the whole string of lights and cords from the wall. This way, I can be sure that there is absolutely no current flowing to lights, extension cords (heavy duty or not) or anything. It's a little bit of a pain in the neck, but very much worth it.

Tinsel or Garland?