With the holidays quickly approaching, the Georgetown Animal Shelter wants to remind everyone to take special care of their animals this season. With so many visitors, out of town guests, and annual holiday parties, it’s easy to get swept up in merriment and forgo the normal routine. Here are a few tips to keep our furry friends safe this holiday season.

• When you have guests over, give your pet a safe place to escape the excitement and to prevent door dashing. A safe corner, crate or room also comes in handy during fireworks.
• Keep people food safely out of reach. Chocolate, grapes, raisins, onions and other ingredients are toxic to pets, and many other foods could cause animals to have digestive issues.
• Don’t leave your pet alone around seasonal decorations. Decorated trees, lit candles, potpourri and holiday plants, such as poinsettias, mistletoe, lilies and holly, are all hazards to pets.

A little bit of planning will save you from worrying during holiday parties and save you from an unplanned trip to the veterinarian.