CHRISTMAS IS UPON US ONCE AGAIN. IT IS A WONDERFUL TIME OF YEAR. THE CHRISTMAS LIGHTS ARE UP, THE STORES ARE BUSSLING WITH HOLIDAY SHOPPERS, AND CHRISTMAS CAROLS ONCE AGAIN FILL THE AIRWAVES.
WHEN WE ARE CHILDREN, CHRISTMAS IS ALL ABOUT WHAT WE WILL “GET”. IT IS A FUN AND EXCITING TIME. BUT AS WE GROW UP, WE START TO REALIZE THAT CHRISTMAS IS REALLY ABOUT WHAT YOU GIVE. YOU LOOK AT ALL THE PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE WHO MEAN SO MUCH TO YOU AND THIS IS THE TIME OF YEAR TO SAY “I LIKE HAVING YOU IN MY LIFE, AND THIS GIFT SHOWS MY APPRECIATION FOR YOU BEING THERE” IF YOU ARE REALLY HONEST, YOU KNOW THAT THE LOOK ON A LOVED ONES FACE WHEN THEY OPEN YOUR GIFT IS BETTER THAN GETTING ONE YOURSELF.
I BUY MY DOGS AND CATS GIFTS EVERY YEAR. I GET MY DOGS THE TOYS THEY DON’T GET THE REST OF THE YEAR. YOU KNOW, THE ONES THAT WILL LAST ABOUT 3 MINUTES BEFORE ALL THE STUFFING IS OUT! I SQUEEK THE TOY IN THE WRAPPING AND THEN LET THEM RIP IT OPEN. IT MAKES THEM HAPPY, AND IT MAKES ME REALLY HAPPY.
I CAN’T HELP BUT THINK OF ALL THE DOGS AND CATS IN THE SHELTERS THAT WON’T GET ANY CHRISTMAS TOYS. THIS IS THE SEASON OF GIVING. IF YOU CAN GIVE THE GIFT OF A HOME TO A LONELY DOG OR CATS, WHAT BETTER TIME OF YEAR. IF YOUR HOME IS ALREADY FILLED, WHY NOT GIVE A GIFT TO HOMELESS DOG OR CAT? OUR SHELTERS NEED SUPPLIES ALL YEAR, BUT A HOLIDAY GIFT WOULD LIFT THE SPIRITS OF NOT ONLY THE DOGS AND CATS BUT ALSO THE HARD WORKING STAFFS. BLANKETS, TOWELS, BOWLS, BAGS OF FOOD AND TREATS ARE ALWAYS WELCOME, BUT SOME HOLIDAY TOYS WOULD BE FUN TOO!
OF COURSE, GIVING A PET AS A CHRISTMAS GIFT IS NEVER RECOMMENDED. PERHAPS A “COUPON” STATING THAT AFTER THE HOLIDAYS, WHEN THINGS SETTLE DOWN, YOU AND THE RECEIPIANT COULD GO TOGETHER TO THE SHELTER TO “FIND THEIR GIFT”
I LIKE TO MAKE SOME SPECIAL TIME FOR MY DOGS AND CATS THIS TIME OF YEAR. I TAKE A BREATHER FROM THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE AND HAVE A SPECIAL PLAY TIME, OR WALK BY THE RIVERFRONT OR DOG PARK. OUR PETS CAN FEEL OUR STRESS AND PEOPLE COMING AND GOING CAN UPSET THEIR ROUTINES, SLOW DOWN WITH THEM, RELAX, AND REMEMBER, THEY NEED SOME TIME TOO.
ALSO, BE AWARE OF THE HAZARDS THAT COME WITH THE SEASON, PUPPIES CHEW ON CHRISTMAS LIGHT CORDS, TINSLE ON TREES IS IRRESISTABLE TO MOST CATS BUT CAN REALLY HURT THEIR TUMMYS. CANDY AND COOKIES SHOULD BE OUT OF REACH. GUESTS NEED TO KNOW NOT TO SHARE THE CHRISTMAS DINNER WITH THEM, BECAUSE THIS TOO CAN UPSET THEIR TUMMYS. IF YOU ARE HAVING A PARTY OR COMPANY STAYING WITH YOU, MAKE SURE THEY ARE CAREFUL ABOUT DOGS AND CATS SNEAKING OUT THE DOOR!
THANKS AGAIN FOR VISITING THE CAT AND DOG BLOG.
I WISH ALL OF YOU A BLESSED CHRISTMAS, AND A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR!