HOWL-O-Ween Pawty…………by Deb of Howlin' Hounds

Over the years, beginning in 1993 till now, I've been "Mom" to nine rescued Basset Hounds.

Each one that now resides at the Bridge, has left their paw print on my heart, and taken a piece of it with them. They've also left behind a wealth of funny stories.  This is one of my favorites.  Sophie and Mabel are both gone now, but will never be forgotten.

It was several years ago, a few days after Halloween. We had a bowlful of hard candy left over from Trick or Treaters....lollipops, tootsie pops, blow pops, jolly ranchers...that sort of thing.

Hubby and I went out for dinner thinking the candy bowl was far enough back on the counter that neither Sophie nor Mabel could get it.

Wrong! When we returned home, my jaw dropped, and I didn't know whether to laugh or cry, when both dogs greeted us at the door completely covered in candy bits, wagging their tails proudly!  It was all over their faces, their ears, paws, bellies, and even in their armpits.  Wrappers and lollipop sticks were scattered from one end of the house to the other.

Then, as I stood there in a total state of shock, Mabel waddled off to the living room, then soon returned, and placed one absolutely pristine Charms Blow Pop at my feet, then looked up at me as only Mabel could, with an expression that said, "I saved one for you, Mom." All I could do was cry and give her a great big hug!

Mabel

Submitted by Deb of Howlin’ Hounds, an online studio on ArtFire where she specializes in making fabric snoods for dogs, as well as useful accessories for people. Deb is a life-long dog lover and loves to sew, a great combo for expressing her creative talents. Deb is also an active member of the Crafting for Animals Guild on ArtFire which works together to help homeless and abused animals everywhere.

HOLIDAY HAZARDS AND HOW TO KEEP YOUR PETS SAFE ....................................Michelle of Creative Critters

Holidays can be a fun and festive time for humans, but can also present many dangers for our pets.  Here are some holiday-related hazards that could harm your pets and how to keep them safe.  With a few extra precautions it can be a happy time for the entire family, the furry four legged members included!

HALLOWEEN:

This can be an especially dangerous time for cats, especially black cats.  Sadly, there are some very sick individuals out there who would torture black cats (or any other poor animals they can get their hands on).  Keep your cats indoors at this time of year, even those that may normally be indoor/ outdoor cats.  Since you'll probably be repeatedly opening the door for trick or treaters, it's a good idea to keep your pets in a secure area of the house so they can't slip out the door. 

Candles are often lit for Halloween and can also pose a danger to curious pets. There's a good reason for the saying "curiosity killed the cat".  Dogs or cats may burn themselves when they get too curious about the flickering flame, or knock the candles over and start a fire.  If you're going to have lit candles, be sure they are placed where your pets can't get at them, and never leave a candle burning unattended.  It only takes a second for a fire to start.

There will be plenty of candy and gum being given out, but neither is a good treat for your pets.  Candy and gum may be sweetened with Xylitol, which is toxic to pets.  And all forms of chocolate can be harmful to pets.  Even a small amount can result in poisoning or even pancreatic inflammation from the high fat content.  If you want to give your pet something special, give them treats made for dogs or cats.

 THANKSGIVING:

Thanksgiving is all about food, and plenty of it!  No matter how much your dog (or cat) begs, do not give him turkey or chicken bones.  These, and other small bones, can splinter easily, causing serious internal damage if swallowed.  If you want to give your dog bones, stick with the large bones from the pet store.

And then there are all those hot containers filled with delicious-smelling food.  Your pet may be tempted to jump up on the counter or stove to investigate more closely, risking getting burned.  Supervise your pets closely to keep them safe.  And don't load them up with table scraps.  They may look adorable as they sit there begging for ham, chicken, turkey, and all the fixings, but all that "people food" can lead to upset stomachs and vomiting.  Not only will your poor pet be miserable with an upset tummy, but you'll have to clean up the mess they leave behind!

CHRISTMAS:

Christmas time can be full of hidden dangers for pets.  Many holiday plants, including Christmas rose, Holly, Lilies, and Mistletoe are toxic to cats and dogs.  Make sure to keep these plants away from your pets.  Ribbons, pretty as they may be, can also pose serious risks to your pets.  Cats especially seem to love chewing on them, and if they swallow them they can become wrapped around the intestines and cause a blockage.  Putting ribbons around your pet's neck is also a bad idea.  They could easily choke.

Old fashion bubble lights are very festive, but they may contain methylene chloride, a highly toxic chemical.

Fire salts (the stuff that makes your fire turn pretty colors) contain chemicals that can be harmful to pets.

Even something as seemingly harmless as the water in your Christmas tree reservoir can be a threat to your pets.  Stagnant tree water, or water containing preservatives, could make your pet sick if they drink it.  And you know if they can get at it, they'll probably drink it.

Christmas ornament hooks are dangerous as well.  If swallowed they can cause blockage or trauma to the gastrointestinal track.  The same goes for tinsel, Styrofoam, and ornaments.  Tinsel is especially attractive to cats.  Personally, I simply won't use it any more.  No matter what, my cats always seem to find a way to get at it.  It's pretty and sparkly, but not worth the risk to my furry friends.

This is also a time when you may have a lot of company, which can upset and confuse some pets.  If possible, give them a quiet place away from the festivities where they can feel safe.  And never force your pet to "visit with" company.  Dragging your cat out so everyone can see her is very stressful for her, and someone may end up getting scratched.  Some dogs can be fearful around a lot of people as well, so take this into consideration.  They're part of the family and deserve to be treated as such.  Sometimes it's a better idea to just share all the pictures of your pets (that way people can see their true personality anyway, rather than a scared animal that just wants to hide).

These tips apply to all other holidays as well.  Noisy holidays, like New Year's and the 4th of July, are very scary for pets.  Keep them indoors and away from the noise and fireworks.  And never give your pet alcohol at any time - it's toxic.  Some people may think it's funny to get their dog drunk, but it's just cruel and could end up killing him.

Enjoy your holidays and keep your pets safe, happy, and healthy by following these simple guidelines.

Submitted by Michelle of Creative Critters where her love of all sorts of animals can be seen in the variety of media she uses to create many kinds of unique and beautiful items for people and pets. Michelle is a very active member of the Crafting for Animals Guild on ArtFire and works hard in many ways to help homeless and abused pets of all kinds. 

The Magic of One Special Black Cat……..by Michelle of Creative Critters

This is the story of a very special black Halloween cat named Lucius.  Lucius came into my life when I was about 13, and right around Halloween.  My family already had two black cats, girls named Ayn (my big brother's cat, named after Ayn Rand ) and Sam, short for Samantha.  We also had several other cats and three dogs at the time.  As you can already tell, I was brought up in an animal-loving household ;-).

One day in the fall I came downstairs for breakfast and saw a black cat sitting on the arm of my chair.  It only took me a second to realize that it was neither Ayn nor Sam.  I asked my stepfather where the cat came from.  He said it was one of ours.  So I lifted the new cat's tail and pointed out that this was very obviously a male, and we had female black cats.  He was really surprised because he'd seen this cat hanging out for a few days around the yard, and none of the other animals seemed to be bothered by his presence.  Talk about good camouflage- LOL!  He DID look a lot like our females (who were sisters), and I don't think it was his physical characteristics that actually tipped me off.  This cat just had a special aura about him.  And he claimed me the minute I saw him - first with his beautiful eyes, then by curling up on my lap as I ate breakfast. 

I have no idea where Lucius came from, but we bonded like I had with no other cat up to that point.  From that moment on he followed me everywhere, slept with me every night, and comforted me whenever I was sad.  There was something magical about this cat, not only in the way he appeared in our house, but in the way he read my emotions, and practically read my thoughts.  I always thought of him as my Halloween kitty, because of the way he looked and the fact that he showed up so close to Halloween.  He was definitely a magical creature.  And I was the only one who received his affections - it was as though no one else existed for him.  He paid no attention to any of the other people or animals in that house. 

We lived on a lake and had a boat dock and Lucius and I would often sit out on the dock and just relax together.  Sometimes at night we'd have a fire outside and he'd curl up in my lap as we watched the flickering flames.  I loved that cat with all my heart, and he returned that love with every furry fiber of his being.  He didn't even seem to object when we moved to another house a few miles away.  In the new house he was able to come and go through my window, which I always left open for him.  He always made sure he was back in my bedroom by the time I went to bed though.

And then one night he didn't come home.  I stayed up all night waiting for his sleek black form to slip through the window.  I searched for him constantly over the next week, and couldn't find a trace of my dear cat.  I knew he hadn't run away or gotten lost - there was no indication that he was unhappy, and he'd settled into the new house quite nicely.  And he certainly knew his way around the entire neighborhood.

Some time later my mom found his body in our shed.  We came to the conclusion that he had been poisoned and had crawled into the shed to die.  I was absolutely heartbroken.  I lived out in the country and sometimes people would put out poisoned bait for coyotes.  The thing is, there's absolutely nothing to keep someone's pet cat or dog from eating that bait instead of the intended coyote.  This is why I never use poison for mice, rats, or any other animal, especially when it might be accessible to other animals.  Even those boxes of mouse poison can make a cat or dog incredibly sick and kill them.  Pets are curious, and will often try something just because it's there.  And when the poison is made to smell tasty, they think they've found a special treat.

I still treasure the years I did have with Lucius, and whenever possible I try to warn people about the dangers of poisoned bait.  Now of course all my cats are house cats,  which allows me to keep a much better eye on them.  I'm still very careful about the chemicals I have in my house and I make sure my pets can't get at any of them.

Submitted by Michelle of Creative Critters where her love of all sorts of animals can be seen in the variety of techniques used to create many kinds of unique and beautiful items for people and pets. Michelle is a member of Crafting for Animals Guild on ArtFire and is participating in a special coupon promotion later this month to raise funds for the guild's spotlight charity, Close to Home Animal Rescue. Please read all about the promotion here and be sure to use your coupon code when purchasing from Michelle and any other CFA guild members from 10/23 through 10/29, or just click on the box below!