Recently in holiday Category

The veterinarians at the Pet Poison Helpline are reminding pet owners about some of the hazards to pets during the Easter season.

Here's one I really wasn't aware of:

"Unbeknownst to many pet owners, Easter lilies are highly toxic to cats," said Ahna Brutlag, DVM, assistant director at Pet Poison Helpline. "All parts of the Easter lily plant are poisonous -- the petals, the leaves, the stem and even the pollen. Cats that ingest as few as one or two leaves, or even a small amount of pollen while grooming their fur, can suffer severe kidney failure."

In most situations, symptoms of poisoning will develop within six to 12 hours of exposure. Early signs include vomiting, loss of appetite, lethargy and dehydration. Symptoms worsen as kidney failure develops. Some cats will experience disorientation, staggering and seizures.

"There is no effective antidote to counteract lily poisoning, so the sooner you can get your cat to the veterinarian, the better his chances of survival will be," said Brutlag. "If you see your cat licking or eating any part of an Easter lily, call your veterinarian or the Pet Poison Helpline immediately. If left untreated, his chances of survival are low."

Chocolate is another seasonal hazard, with the hotline saying calls about dogs poisoned by chocolate increase by nearly 200 percent during the week of Easter.

Find out more on the group's website.

Or check out the site's new "Ask-the-Vet" videos on keeping pets safe from toxins inside and outside the home.


The phone # is 800-213-6680 and there is a one-time $35 consultation fee per incident, which also covers followup calls.

We did this last year and received some great photos.

So here's the deal: Email us a photo of your pet gussied up for the holidays in his or her special collar, sweater, hat, antlers, scarf, posing with Santa .... well, you get the idea. Then we'll post them at South Bay Pets. 

If your dog refuses (and, believe me, we DO understand those objections -- see my dog Cowboy at left), a photo taken in front of the Christmas tree or simply in the snow would be great.

Be sure to also send along some information about your pet, including what city you live in (and state if you're out of the area), so we can post it along with the photo.

We'll post them as they come, now through the holidays.

Send them to donna.littlejohn@dailybreeze.com

And, yes, I did apologize -- profusely -- to Cowboy. 

Taking your pet for a holiday photo with Santa is almost always fun -- and almost always fraught with the unexpected moment. Or two.

But we won't go there.

Area malls and pet stores are getting into the act this year with several photo shoots planned. So get out the grooming brush, get everyone looking their best, and head on down for a night you (and Santa) probably won't forget.

Cats must be in carriers and dogs on leash.

• South Bay Galleria at 1815 Hawthorne Blvd. (at Artesia) in Redondo Beach: 7 to 8 p.m. Dec. 6; 8 to 9 p.m. Dec. 13. (310-371-7546)

• Manhattan Village at 3200 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Manhattan Beach: 1 to 5 p.m. Dec. 10 (310-426-6313)
  

Local Petco stores also will host Santa photos from 1 to 4 p.m. Dec. 4 and Dec. 11 ($8.95 plus tax which includes a holiday card and envelope while supplies last). South Bay stores:

• 852 N. Western Ave., San Pedro (in the Park Plaza shopping center)
• 24413 Crenshaw Blvd., Suite 8, Torrance (in the Crossroads center
• 51-A Peninsula Center, Rolling Hills Estates
• 537 N. Pacific Coast Highway, Redondo Beach
• 3901 Inglewood Ave., Suite G, Redondo Beach
• 8801 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Westchester

Petsmart: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 4-5, 11-12 and 18-19. Local stores:

• 3855-59 Sepulveda Blvd., Torrance (310-316-9047)
• 730 S. Sepulveda Blvd., El Segundo (310-333-0602)
  

Centinela Feed & Pet Supplies (Long Beach store, 4700 E. Pacific Coast Highway) will have a photo event with Santa and his Elf (yes, that's singular -- everyone's downsizing this year) from 5 to 7 p.m. Dec. 4 ($5 per photo).

The Redondo Beach Dog Park will offer pet photos with Santa and a holiday boutique sale from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 5. (Cost is $5 for a 4x6 photo while you wait, proceeds going to the maintenance of the dog park; you should probably leave the cat at home for this one.) The park is adjacent to Dominguez Park on the corner of Flagler Lane and 190th St. in Redondo Beach. www.rbdogpark.com

You're probably pretty bored with turkey sandwiches by now.

So here's the good news if you still have left-overs: You can turn them into dog treats!

Check out this recipe for Turkey Dog Treats.

 

Your dog will love you.

 

Whether your pet's been naughty or nice, a photo with Santa Claus can mark the season with a unique -- and often times humorous -- memento to share with friends and family.

Three of the South Bay's malls are offering professional pet photos with Santa this year:

 

• South Bay Galleria at 1815 Hawthorne Blvd. (at Artesia) in Redondo Beach: 7 to 8 p.m. Nov. 30; 7 to 8 p.m. Dec. 7; 8 to 9 p.m. Dec. 14. (310-371-7546)

 

• Del Amo Fashion Center at Hawthorne Boulevard and Carson Street: 6 to 9 p.m. Dec. 2 (bring your dog or cat through the Mall 11 entrance just outside the security office). (310-542-8525)

 

• Manhattan Village at 3200 N. Sepulveda Blvd., Manhattan Beach: 1 to 5 p.m. Dec. 4. (310-426-6313)

 

Petco stores also will host a pet-photo-with-Santa event from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 5 (PALS club members get a free photo with any purchase while supplies last); and also from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 12 (when photos will be $8.95 plus tax, with $5 from each photo going to help pets in need).

Local Petco stores are at:

• 852 N. Western Ave., San Pedro (in the Park Plaza shopping center)
• 24413 Crenshaw Blvd., Suite 8, Torrance (in the Crossroads center)
• 51-A Peninsula Center, Rolling Hills Estates
• 537 N. Pacific Coast Highway, Redondo Beach
• 3901 Inglewood Ave., Suite G, Redondo Beach
• 8801 S. Sepulveda Blvd., Westchester

 

Centinela Feed & Pet Supplies in Rancho Palos Verdes (at The Terraces, 28901 Western Ave.) will offer holiday-themed props and backgrounds for professional photo sessions (but with no actual Santa available) from 3:30 to 7 p.m. Dec. 1. ($14.95)

 

 (And this cute little kitten above -- Lexus -- is actually available for adoption this holiday season from the Peter Zippi Fund for Animals in Hermosa Beach. And there's more on their web site.)

 

 

 

Despite the recession, we live in the land of plenty.

If you ever doubt this, take a look at the statistics about how many pet owners nowadays buy Christmas gifts for their critters (OK, so the gifts are really for us in a psychological sense).

So since you're going to buy something anyway, read about  some useful -- and funny -- pet toys and products you can pick up for your favorite furry friends this year.

There are dog and cat beds, organic treats and laser lights to drive them up the wall (literally). And be sure to check out the Crazy Cat Lady board game  from Archie McPhee for cat lovers on your list. There's also (yes, really) the Crazy Cat Lady Action Figure.

Santa holds Pug Fuch at the Robinson Town Center PetSmart in Robinson Township, Pa. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar,File) (GENE J. PUSKAR):

 

Here it is, that time of year again. Already. 

The first of several pets-with-santa photo sessions takes place this Saturday (Nov. 21) to benefit the Peter Zippi Fund for Animals.

It all happens at the VCA Coast Animal Hospital, 1560 Pacific Coast Highway, in Hermosa Beach. Hours are 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Bring your pets to pose for a professional photo session with Santa. Photos can be loaded onto CDs or used to make unique, one-of-a-kind holiday greeting cards.

The $15 donation supports the Peter Zippi Fund's work with homeless animals.

 

I don't know who will be playing Santa. But good luck to you, sir.

 

(Photo from Dogster )

So today is St. Patrick's Day and PetPlace.com has an article on Irish dog breeds. Do you know what they are? (Hint: The dog at the left isn't really one of them, but how cute is he?)

There are quite a few, actually: Irish Terrier, Irish Setter, Irish Wolfhound, Kerry Blue Terrier.

Check out the article for the rest of the dog breeds that hail from the Emerald Isle.

 

 

Happy Valentine's Day from the dogs, 'possums, fish, bears, koalas, horses, alligators at South Bay Pets. Oh, and the cats too, but mostly the dogs.