Happy Thanksgiving from Dine 909!

All of us here at Dine 909 wish you a Happy Thanksgiving…whether you are cooking your meal, buying a pre-made one, going out for dinner, or just sponging off of are dining with someone else (Thanks, Mom & Dad!).

We also care about the littlest Dine 909ers — no, not your children — your pets!

That’s why we’re passing along these Thanksgiving pet safety tips from the San Bernardino County Animal Care and Control Program.

Read on after the jump…

  • Never feed turkey bones to pets. A turkey bone can splinter and become lodged in the throat or further down the digestive system. Bone fragments can lacerate the delicate tissues as they move down the throat. Also advise guests not to feed pets.
  • Avoid feeding fatty leftovers. Rich fatty foods like turkey skin, ham and gravy can lead to stomach upset and other problems in pets. Chocolate, caffeine, and alcohol are all toxic to pets and should not be given to them.
  • Continue pet feeding routine. Pets thrive on routine. It is best to feed your pet their regular meal before guests arrive. This will help keep them regular and reduce the temptation for begging and stealing.
  • Dispose of leftovers properly. Keep food on tables and counters out of reach of pets. Make sure garbage and leftovers are safely disposed of right away, as even trained pets may be tempted to counter-surf, raid the garbage or outside trash.
  • Keep pets safe and comfortable. If expecting company for Thanksgiving, arrange for a safe and quite area for your pets. Pets that have their own room will feel safer; less stressed, and won’t be able to accidentally escape out the front door. Another option is to use a pet gate or play pen to house your pet nearby the festivities so they can still see what is going on, but be kept safely indoors.
  • Ensure pets have I.D. Keep current identification on your pet at all times. In the event that your pet gets loose you will have a better chance of having them returned if they have proper identification. Pets that have some form of identification, License/ID tag/Microchip, are held for ten days at the San Bernardino County animal shelter, giving the owner a longer time frame to be reunited with their pet.

Be prepared. Keep your veterinarians’ phone number nearby in the event of an emergency. For more information, please call the San Bernardino County Animal Care and Control Program toll free at 1-800-472-5609.