Make your pet part of your festive celebrations

South Africans love December. Most use this time to relax, look back, look forward, and celebrate with friends and family. Whether Christmas, New Year or just the sunny summer days – don’t forget to include those furry family members.

For this festive season, local animal behaviourist and dog rehabilitation expert, Iva Cinkova, advises pet owners to think about how their animal will feel this festive season, whatever your plans are.

Consider your pets through the end-of-the-year celebrations – some activities would be just as fun for your pet as they will be for you, and others might cause your pet stress and sadness.

Options for going away

Your pet will not enjoy being alone, so to help you make it easier on them, the SPCA has laid out some options to consider if you are travelling this holiday.

Many pet owners make use of boarding kennels and catteries. These facilities can help stave off the boredom of being alone, however, you must always make sure your pet is vaccinated, says the SPCA, as even the most well-kept and clean facilities can expose your pet to some illnesses that have no inoculations to protect your fur baby. Staff at these facilities are very well trained, but they can be quite stressful if your pet dislikes new places.

Another option is to take your pet with you on holiday. This can be stressful for the animal, depending on its disposition. It might be difficult to find accommodation that accepts your pet, and in cases where your pet escapes or goes missing, it can be very difficult to find them again. Remember to never leave your animal locked in a car by themselves.

The best option would be to hire a pet sitter, home sitter, or home pet care service. Your animal will be much happier staying in a space they know well, and will enjoy it even more if there is someone around to provide companionship. As an added bonus, this will also provide an extra level of security to your home.

Inclusion in activities

Your four-legged children love spending time with you, even those grumpy cats that seem to despise being bothered. A great way to keep them happy is to involve them in your festive plans. Buy your pets gifts, include them in family photoshoots, make them special holiday treats, and spend time doing their favourite activities. Your pet will feel loved and happy knowing that they are part of the pack.

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