Give a Homeless Cat or Dog a Gift of Good Cheer - Answering Service Resources

Home
>
Pet
>
Give a Homeless Cat or Dog a Gift of Good Cheer

Give a Homeless Cat or Dog a Gift of Good Cheer

The holidays are a wonderful time of year, full of excitement , expectation, and celebration.

But for many it's also a difficult time. This is especially true for anyone not blessed with a close, supportive family, or those physically separated from loved ones.

Consider, among these unlucky souls, the four legged ones who have to spend their holidays--all of their days, in fact--at the local ASPCA or animal shelter. These poor creatures have little to look forward to besides hoping that some nice family will adopt them some day.

Pets need new games, new toys, new smells and experiences, and above all, exercise to be happy. Dogs and cats in shelters can get depressed, lose their appetites, and become more susceptible to illness.

I was pondering this recently, when a light bulb turned on in my head (figuratively, not literally). "Why not get all these lonely and stressed-out souls together?", I thought.

Now, I'm not implying that everyone who's feeling a little despondent or stressed during the holidays should run out and adopt a pet. Bringing home a new dog or cat is a serious commitment and should be done for the right reasons, and with plenty of forethought. But there are other ways to bring the gift of good cheer.

A lifting of the spirits is not only a rewarding gift to give, but is good medicine for animals and people alike. A happier animal is a healthier animal, and probably a more adoptable one. And a happier human is not only healthier, but more apt to enjoy the season of giving.

What could be more uplifting for both dog and human than bringing some inexpensive "kitty or doggie gift baskets" to a local shelter, and watching the residents enjoy them? You -- or the "holiday-challenged" people in your life-- could fill up a basket (or two, or three!) with healthy pet treats, amusing toys, or comfy blankets. You might want to check first to see if the shelter in your area allows this, or if they have a need for particular items.

If cat or dog gift baskets aren't an option, offer to take a canine resident for a walk. I recently learned about a retired couple who does this on a regular basis. They spend their entire day at the local shelter, making sure that every single dog has been walked. The couple does this twice a week, all year round. The dogs love it, and it's wonderful exercise for all concerned.

I know what you're thinking. But you don't have to do anything as time-consuming as all that. Just show up once or twice. A walk and some fresh air is a great way to alleviate holiday stress and you're sure to catch some of the light-hearted spirit that radiates from a happy dog. Tell a friend about it. Maybe they'll give it a try. Some might be inspired enough to become "hometown heros", like the couple mentioned above.

You might know an older retiree who considers dog ownership too much of a burden, but wouldn't mind taking a dog for a walk. If it's a friend or family member who walks but no longer drives, perhaps you could volunteer to drop them off and pick them up.

Giving freely of ourselves is one of best gifts we can give. But if all of this seems too time consuming, then a small financial donation would still go a long way. Lots of shelters have fund raisers this time of year, and odds are you won't have to look far to find one. In the end, caring is what really matters.

© 2004, Carolyn Schweitzer. Lifelong dog-lover, power-shopper, and former family dentist Carolyn Schweitzer is owner and editor of Great-Dog-Gift.com . The site offers a wide range of choices for dog gift shoppers, plus shopping and gift-giving tips. (Also advice on dog care and feeding.) She's always looking for new dog gift ideas and dog stories to share with her readers. You can reach her by email at netbrainer@verizon.net.

In The News:

San Francisco Chronicle
The healing power of pets
San Francisco Chronicle, USA - 14 hours ago
Over the years, a plethora of data has been collected on the larger role dogs and other pets play in the health of people all over the world. ...

Holiday feasts are not for pets
Atlanta Journal Constitution, USA - 14 hours ago
Youâ€™ll see our warnings about feeding repeatedly because around this time of year, every year, we see pets brought in with very preventable illnesses caused ...

Officials offer amnesty for exotic pets Saturday
Daytona Beach News-Journal, FL - 55 minutes ago
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will conduct one of its "pet amnesty days" on Saturday at the Jacksonville Zoo. ...
FWC to hold Pet Amnesty Day at Jacksonville Zoo & Gardens Chipley Florida Online Newspaper - Foster Folly News
Jacksonville Journal Florida Times-Union
all 3 news articles

Heartworm Disease Prevention Protects Pets, Wallets
MarketWatch - 16 hours ago
BATAVIA, Ill., Nov 19, 2008 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- The American Heartworm Society strongly urges pet owners to continue year-round heartworm prevention ...

HOLIDAY SHOPPING GOES TO THE DOGS!
Seattle Post Intelligencer - 7 hours ago
It's all to benefit the Seattle Humane Society and there will be professional holiday-themed photos for pets and their owners, several pets available for ...
Pet Food Bank helps four-legged friends in need Issaquah Press
all 2 news articles

Pets Feeling the Tough Economy
KWCH, KS - 8 hours ago
Caring for pets however, is getting tougher. Many Americans simply can't afford the costs. And area vets say they've noticed a change over the past few ...

Pet Scoop: Christmas Market event is just for the pets
Memphis Commercial Appeal, TN - 1 hour ago
By Cindy Wolff (Contact), Memphis Commercial Appeal Even though we haven't celebrated Thanksgiving, there are already holiday events to do with your pets. ...

Tales from Paw Print City: Senior living options opt-in pets
Northwest Voice, CA - 8 hours ago
With the increasing integration of pets into the lives of people and ever-mounting evidence for the benefits of having pets in our lives, it makes sense ...

Copycats exhibit weird behavior, pets prone to infection need medicine
Norman Transcript, OK - 1 hour ago
If I try to pet him when he does this, he meows loudly. He does this for a couple of minutes then jumps down and licks his privates. ...

Even pets feeling the sting of the economy
WSLS.com, VA - 12 hours ago
Pet owners also are delaying veterinary appointments and avoiding expensive treatments because of financial issues, according to local vets. ...

pets - Google News

Answering Service ResourceAnswering Service Resource