By Joe Rodweller
That time of year again and we here hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year! It’s a joyful and festive time with everyone rushing around doing parties, suppers and get-togethers. I would hope that as all this is taking place no pet is forgotten or pushed to the wayside because of no time to spare. Remember, they are part of the family and when all the excitement is happening they might become a little nervous to say the least. They don’t know what’s going on; just that their family and home is not the way they are used to.
So show them some attention once in a while and don’t go off the deep end if they have an accident or knock something over or break it. Your animals can read your emotions and they react to it, good or bad. There will be some broken ornaments, a tree over or maybe a strand of lights getting tangled or attached on something and being pulled. Hey, get over it! It’s part of Christmas with pets! And don’t forget to get your pets their own presents. They know what’s going on and they also get excited with gifts. Yes, you should wrap them like all the rest, that’s part of the fun.
If you’re getting or have already gotten a pet as a gift, I hope it was from a local animal shelter. There are too many animals in our shelters without homes or hope; they need both. So show your pets you care and include them in your holiday plans.
One last thing, children know and associate Christmas with Santa and presents. That’s okay and is perfectly fine, but if you can, remember to also teach them the true meaning of Christmas and Jesus — a time of love, healing, strength and understanding. If they learn and understand this, then it will make Christmas so much more important to them as they go through life. Once again, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Joe Rodweller of Linneus, a certified animal control officer and member of the Maine Animal Control Association, operates Maine Animal Control with his wife Debbie. He can be reached at 538-1347 or via e-mail at debjoe347@yahoo.com.
