Pet Friendly Holiday Hosting

Hosting a holiday party, Christmas or New Year’s at your house this year? Make sure your pets are taken care of as well as your guests. Just like people, our pets can easily become stressed and overwhelmed which may happen when you have a house full of people. Here are some tips to help your pet, you and your guests stay calm, safe and happy!

1. Give your pets a comfortable, quiet place to go when they are overwhelmed. This can be a room you are not using, a crate or just a quiet space where the noise level is low and where your guests won’t wonder to.
2. Do you have a nervous pet? Put them away in a quiet room or space before your guests arrive. This allows them to get comfortable and adjust to the space if they may not be used to it.
3. Make sure your guests know you have pets and where they will be for the duration of the event. This way they won’t startle your pet or themselves if they go where your pet is. Warning your guests ahead of time will allow them to prepare if they have allergies or other medical needs.
4. Are guests asking if they can bring pets? If you or your pets have never met an animal it may be best if they stay at their own house. It is okay to politely decline when they ask to bring their pet or introduce the animals before the event.
5. Are people coming and going? If your pet is roaming the house make sure you or someone else is keeping an eye on them. It is easy to lose track of your pets location when you are busy mingling and welcoming guests. It may be a good idea to keep a collar on them for the night with their identification incase they do run out.
6. Time for cleanup! At the end of the night make sure you throw away any scraps or garbage where your pets won’t be able to rummage through it. Some foods are toxic to pets that you might not think. Take the garbage out right away to ensure the safety of your pets.
7. Going out of the house? Make sure everything is cleaned up and put away before you leave. It is a good idea to unplug any decorations that you cat or dog could chew while you are gone.

We hope you have a great holiday season!