Tips to keep pets safe and happy this Thanksgiving

ZANESVILLE, Ohio – As friends and family come together for Thanksgiving, the Animal Shelter Society has tips to keep your pets safe and happy.

April Gibson, the executive director for the shelter, says the first thing to consider is accounting for the noise and chaos a family get together can bring and how your animal may need to get some space.

“So, make sure that your animals, dogs or cats or what have you in that house, they have a safe place. Let them have a room. Let them have a place where they can go where there’s not so much chaos,” Gibson said. “We’ve been a part of that before with our family tables and it’s loud and just make sure that they have their own little space so that they can get away from it. Even as human beings we like to do that. ”

While you’re furry family member may be begging, Gibson offers some food safety for your pet and the potential dangers in a specific decorative flower.

“Do not feed certain food to your animals. You know your turkey skins and things like that. Make sure your bones are completely done-up, put in the trash so your animals can’t get ahold of that. Just be mindful. Do not feed them … from the table. It’s just a very bad thing to get started,” Gibson said. “Keep in mind, we’re coming upon poinsettia season. They’re beautiful, we love them, they usually come out at Thanksgiving. They’re extremely poisonous. There’s other plants that you can certainly put around your home to be beautiful for you’re family to see.”

While volunteers will be on site to care for the animals, the Animal Shelter Society will be closed to customers from Thanksgiving until Dec. 1.