  Holiday Safety for Pets
With the excitement of the holiday season lurks hidden potential dangers for pets. This newsletter describes how to keep your pet (or your family’s or friend’s pets) from needing emergency care during all the hustle and bustle.
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Avoid access to any string, such as ribbon and tinsel. If swallowed, the string can damage the intestines and require very costly surgery. Also make sure your cat, rabbit, or puppies do not bite into an electrical cord, which can cause serious burns to the mouth or even electrocution.
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Prevent ingestion of foreign bodies. Dogs will sometimes swallow items such as cat toys, ornaments, and even garbage. Any of these items can get stuck in the stomach or intestines and sometimes require veterinary care or surgery as needed.
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Pet food only. Intentional or accidental ingestion of some common holiday goodies can make a pet sick and require veterinary care:
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Grapes/raisins
Onions/garlic
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Coffee/beans
Chocolate
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Macadamia nuts
Alcohol/marijuana edibles
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Additional Toxins and What to Do:
Xylitol, an artificial sweetener sometimes in candy, gum, and even peanut butter, is extremely toxic to dogs. Medications can also have toxic side effects if ingested accidentally. It's a good idea to remind your guests to secure any medicines (for themselves or their own pets) so they are not accessible to your pets.
If ingested, contact an animal hospital or poison hotline as soon as possible to receive advice if prompt medical care is needed. Talking to a veterinarian in a timely manner can mean the difference between an animal surviving or not.
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Click the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center Logo to learn more about this service.
Let’s make sure we keep our pets safe and healthy.
Thank you for being a part of our DCAS family and we wish you, and your furry loved ones, a happy holiday season.
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 Dr. Barbara Hanek,
Veterinarian Administrator
Do you plan to travel this holiday season with your furry friends? Here are some considerations:
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How Will You Travel? Car is the easiest way to travel with your pets. The safest option is to keep them secure in a crate big enough for them to relax in or use a seat belt harness. Don't let your pets sit in the front seat or stick their head out the windows.
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What Does Your Pet Need? Make sure to pack quality equipment and supplies for your pet. Don't forget to discuss medications with your veterinarian before you travel. Always pack your valid rabies certificate and some states will need a recent health certificate for visiting pets as well.
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Are We Ready to Travel? Take short practice trips in the carrier and/or car to get your pet used to them. If your pet isn't familiar with a carrier, start as soon as possible to create positive associations. Have it out and open in the house and feed or give treats inside the carrier.
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Where Can You Go in Case of Emergency? Make sure to have your vet's contact information written down and handy. Research where you're traveling to and write down the name and phone number of a nearby veterinarian and emergency animal hospital.
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Is Your Pet Better Off at Home? Not all pets enjoy travel or exploring new places. Consider pet sitting or other alternatives to make sure you're providing a stress free holiday for yourself and your pet this year.
Use this handy checklist to make your holiday travel as easy as possible!
Providing Warm and Fuzzy Feelings All Year Round
With so many people online spreading negativity, we are very grateful for our social media cheerleaders. Volunteers like Laurie C, adopters, past employees, and many more people help us educate the community by correcting inaccurate, harmful stereotypes on social media and explaining the good work happening at DCAS.
We are so thankful for Laurie and the others who take time out of their day to like, share, comment, and post to get the word out on what we do inside the shelter and out in the field.
Here are some helpful tips if you'd like to support DCAS's efforts online:
- Share, Like, and Comment! The more people we can reach with our posts (Stray, Adoption, etc), the more likely we are to quickly find happy homes for our homeless animals.
- Refer: Let community members know about the information on our website or have them call us with questions. We are always happy to help point people in the right direction!
Click on the image above to visit the ASPCA website and learn how you can do more for animals by becoming an online animal advocate!
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Let's Find You a Home so Pretty
This year has been tough on shelters all over the country. Here at DCAS, we've seen a lot more animals than normal and kitten season is longer than it has been in the past. We have an unusual amount of kittens in the shelter, and more on the way. It makes it harder for our adult cats to get the attention they deserve.
Twinkle came in as a nursing mom with four kittens. Now with her babies weaned and preparing for their next steps, it's time for Twinkle to find her furever home. This gorgeous pocket panther gets along well with other cats and would probably do fine with a dog after slow introductions. Twinkle is very lovable and is just waiting for a loving home. She's a little shy in the shelter, but getting braver every day. Click her picture to see a staff member tempt Twinkle with a feather toy! Can you give her a loving home so Twinkle's playful side can shine?
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Join us at 7pm select Thursday nights all year long! Follow the links provided to register.
Pet Training 101 - December 16, 2021
From basic manners to advanced tricks, we’ll share some tips to help unlock your pet’s potential.
Registration Link: https://bit.ly/3fK2wrQ
Canine Concerns - January 6, 2022
They’re our best friends, but there’s a lot we don’t understand about dogs. Learn about common dog behaviors, the natural instincts behind them, and how to manage those behaviors that aren’t so fun to live with.
Registration Link: https://bit.ly/3xxK0L0
Helping Homeless Pets - January 20, 2022
You’ve found a stray animal, now what? Understand the reasons animals become lost or surrendered and what you can do to help homeless animals.
Registration Link: https://bit.ly/3CYm4BG
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