Pets and House Guests
The holiday season often brings a steady stream of house guests. The holidays are a wonderful time to open our homes to distant relatives, friends and other guests. However, mixing holiday guests with your pets can result in a number of problems. While you should be able to entertain guests you don’t want to make your pets feel unwelcome in their own home.
Make sure that all of your guests know that you have a pet before they arrive. Even though your close family and friends probably already know about your pets, check to see if they will be bringing anybody else. Informing guests of the type of pet that you have will give them the opportunity to alert you of any allergies. Although guests with severe allergies are likely to decline an invitation, less severe allergies will require you to spend some extra time vacuuming and cleaning. Informing your guests of your pets can go a very long way towards making holiday visits run smoothly.
Prepare a special place for your pet ahead of time. While it might not seem fair to keep them away from the festivities, you must consider their comfort and safety. It might sometimes be better for your pet to spend a few hours in a safe and comfortable place. Prepare the space with a water bowl, food and toys and remember to check on them regularly.
If you decide to keep your pet out during holiday get-togethers you will need to monitor them closely. Make sure that your pet is not bothering your guests or begging for food. Also, watch for guests that feed your pet from the table. Kids often don’t realize when they are playing too rough, putting themselves and your pet in danger. House guests that engage in behaviors such as roughhousing or improper feeding might be putting your pet at risk. As the host, it is your responsibility to ensure that your guests are following the house rules in regards to your pet.
We hope that this information has been helpful as we strive to provide education on all aspects of pet care.
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