Washoe County Regional Animal Services (WCRAS) is planning a special Christmas Day feast for the dogs and cats who will be spending Christmas at the shelter. Anyone can get involved in providing a special holiday treat for the animals.
WCRAS will be taking canned food donations until 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve. People can drop off donations at 2825 Longley Lane in Reno. Preferred donations include:
• Canned chicken
• Canned tuna
• Canned sweet or regular potatoes
• Canned sliced carrots
WCRAS wants to thank the community for contributing to its second annual Christmas Pawliday event.
Tammy Jennings, the assistant director for WCRAS said, "All these animals are, I guess, basically alone on Christmas day and they're here alone in the shelter hoping that they're either found by their families or getting a new home or something like that. So it's nice to be able to give them a little something extra on the holidays too."
For more information you can email pets@washoecounty.us or call 775-353-8900.
WCRAS also wants to make sure animals that get to be with their families have a great holiday too, and they say it starts with safety.
It says every year the Canine Rehabilitation Center & Cat Sanctuary has a rise in incidents and requests for help from the community regarding their pets, particularly dogs. Requests include behavior help, training, emergency re-homing and surrender requests.
Experts say, the primary way that canines understand the world, process information and communicate is through energy, body movements, scent and tone. All of those things about humans tend to change during the holiday season which disrupts routines and increases stimulus, creating many unwanted behaviors and unsafe situations for our pets.
Data also shows an increase in December of veterinarians treating GI distress, bite wounds and emergency visits due to lack of pet proofing. Average cost for treatment for ingestion of ribbon, wrapping paper, tinsel, ornaments, etc., ranges from $329 to a high of $1740.
WCRAS says culinary items or decorations which do not adversely affect humans may have life threatening one for your pets. Chocolate, lilies, holly berries, rosemary, mistletoe, grapes, garlic, raisins, nutmeg, alcohol, onions are all detrimental to pets and treatment costs range from $160 to $550.
WCRAS recommends that people pet proof their homes regularly, and relieve animals of stress when new guest arrive by providing a comfortable safe space away from gatherings with too many people.
(Washoe County Regional Animal Services contributed to this report.)
