Tips For Keeping Pets Safe, Healthy During Thanksgiving

HUDSON VALLEY, NY — There’s a lot that goes into having Thanksgiving, what with families and friends congregating, eating lots of food and watching parades and football.

What shouldn’t be an afterthought are your pets. The holiday season can pose risks to your furry family members.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has a few suggestions to guide you through keeping your pets safe during Thanksgiving and the rest of the holidays.

• Make sure your pets are kept away from the dinner table and unattended plates of food. Most rich Thanksgiving food won't agree with your dogs and cats.
• Be sure to secure the lids on garbage cans.
• If you are serving alcoholic beverages, keep the drinks where pets cannot get to them.
• With guests coming and going, keep an eye on the door so pets don’t slip out while you aren’t looking.
• Always make certain your pets have personalized ID tags with your name and phone number and an up-to-date microchip. See the “keep an eye on the door” safety tip above.
• Consider giving your pets a room of their own, where they can get away from the excitement of visitors.