Animal Behaviorist Offers Humane Holiday Pet Hints & Tips For Christmas & Hanukkah Celebrations

Animal behaviorist, Diana L. Guerrero offers a few humane holiday hints along with seasonal suggestions for pet households. Make it a humane holiday for animals and a sane holiday for your household!

(PRWEB) December 10, 2004 -- Hanukkah and Christmas can be happy events but the holidays can be disastrous and even downright deadly for pets. According to animal behaviorist Diana L. Guerrero, "The holidays are the worst time to bring animals into a home. Save the stress on the animal and the family by following a few simple steps."

Guerrero is an animal behaviorist who writes columns on wild animal behavior, training, and pet etiquette. She is contributing editor to "Resources for Crisis Management in Zoos and Other Animal Care Facilities" and is the author of the holiday favorite, "What Animals Can Teach Us about Spirituality: Inspiring Lessons of Wild and Tame Creatures." She continued, "Giving pets as presents is NOT a good idea. If you want to give someone a pet for a holiday, use some clever humane alternatives instead."

Guerrero continued by saying that many unscrupulous people breed animals for sale during the holidays. "Backyard breeders are not concerned for the animals or their welfare. They often advertise in throw away papers, and sell cuddly critters by the side of the road or in parking lots of popular stores. Buying animals from these sources is inhumane and animal professionals recommend that people refrain from supporting that trade."

Guerrero's hints for a humane holiday gift ideas include:

-Purchase the pet necessities for the new critter.

-Next, wrap each gift separately so they can be opened during holiday celebrations.

-Conclude the gift opening party with a picture of the ideal pet and/or a pet adoption certificate from an animal agency or similar entity.

She stated, "These actions are fun and conscientious-and will build up the excitement and anticipation of the new arrival."

Need some other ideas? The animal behaviorist suggests pet breed and training books, pet beds or housing, dishes, brushes, accessories, toys, and certificates for grooming and other services like training and veterinary care.

"Make the effort a family affair and search for the pet together. Families grow closer through the researching and planning for a new household member. Those efforts will also keep the pet in the home and make the adaptation easier for everyone-not just the new pet. The big perk is that your humane actions sets a good example for kids and others within your influence."

If you already have a pet, Guerrero suggests that you make contributions to animal related charities in their honor. Families can research and select the agency, both wild and domestic animal rescue agencies could use the help.

You can check out Guerrero's recommendations for animal lover gifts and animal behavior tips at www.arkanimals.com.

Guerrero concluded, "Taking a few steps to plan your holidays and the arrival of new pets can protect and save the life of many critters-and save your sanity at a hectic time!"

"What Animals Can Teach Us about Spirituality" (ISBN 1893361845) is available from most major booksellers throughout the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom and is published by SkyLight Paths, a division of LongHill Partners, Inc.

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