The frost is hardly on the pumpkin here in the mighty SGV as daytime temperatures lean toward 80F, but ICYMI, the winter solstice, Hanukkah, Christmas and New Year’s Eve are comin’ right up anyway.
So it’s no surprise that the Animal House mailbox has been flooded with holiday correspondence from the pets themselves, who have more than usual to say. Many of the messages have to do with being forced to wear antlers, Santa hats and angel wings during the holiday season, not to mention the fact that embarrassing photo evidence of these ridiculous get-ups is posted all over social media in perpetuity.
The indignity of it all!
What’s most revealing is that very few of these letters from pets are wishes for anything material. There are, however, many requests from dogs, cats and other critters currently in local shelters along the lines of:
“Please, if there is a Santa, and even if there isn’t, get me out of here. I was talking to a nice dog over the wall, but now her cage is quiet. I don’t know where she went. This cement floor is cold. And I’m so lonely.” – Lars, GSD
Or this one:
“Seriously, is this some kind of insane joke? Everyone knows that my Felidae family are ancient Egyptian priestesses waiting to return to our proper station in life. I had a nice human friend, but now his new girlfriend doesn’t like cats. So the dude dropped me off here, where nobody seems to realize Who. I. Am. I mean, AYKM? I demand an intervention. NOW!” – Bastet, DSH
Most of the holiday missives from pets, though, are earnest New Year’s Resolutions for 2025. These tug at our heartstrings because they prove just how much our animals do appreciate food, shelter, and trips to the vet — well, maybe not so much on that one, but they are grateful for our care, especially when they read the letters from their fellow beasts behind bars.
We do notice that most of these pet resolutions seem to be in response to human frustrations. These letters from pets remind us that if we want an animal’s behavior to change, we have to change our own behavior.
Here are a few to consider
- “I will stop shedding so much fur, so maybe my cat mom will hold me more.” – Mrs. Biddles, ragdoll calico
It’s impossible for a cat to decide to stop shedding. She’s just trying to appease an impatient human. If you have a long-haired pet of any kind, expect fluff, fuzz and dander. Everywhere.
This experience is shared by some dog-humans, too. For instance, it’s said that Huskies shed fluff only once a year but for 365 days.
Pets with a lot of hair need help with grooming, probably with a professional groomer. Bathing (such as in tubs, soap, warm water, and lots of towels) is often a must for dogs. In addition, consult with your groomer to find out what type of brush or slicker can help keep your pet’s coat clean and sleek between visits. With fluffy cats, daily grooming at home not only prevents matting but also helps your cat swallow less hair. And this will mean less gakking and hacking all over your favorite sofa throw in the middle of the night.
If your pet seems to be overproducing an abnormal volume of hair, shedding too much hair, leaving patches of bare skin, etc., the cause may be a health issue like a food allergy or an immune system misfire, so consult your vet.
- “From now on, I promise I will always, always use my litterbox.” – Mr. Big Stuff, DSH
Cats actually prefer not to make a mess. If your cat “misses” the litterbox with any regularity, it’s a message.
Some cats insist on a pristine box. If the box isn’t kept fresh as a daisy, meaning that it’s scooped at least once a day, your pet may make a tactical deposit outside the box to express dissatisfaction.
If the box is well-maintained but your cat deposits outside the box, the issue may be a urinary tract infection or kidney issue. This seems to be particularly true of male cats, especially intact seniors. In this case, see your vet pronto.
- “I will have sweet doggie-breath so my humans will let me kiss them more.” – Cashew, golden retriever
Like shedding, your pet cannot “decide” to have sweeter breath.
Stink, stank, STUNK. Give your pet’s mouth the sniff test. As with all carboniferous matter, there is fresh, natural funk versus straight-up nasty STANK.
Fresh funk may smell like compost, dirt, well-worn sweat socks, or pet food. It may not be an aroma you want to bathe in, but it’s basically just a whiff of the organic, and not really all that bad. Stank, on the other hand, actually smells sick. And sickening. It smells foul, stale and ferment-y versus raw. Stank smells of decay, like rotted meat.
Stank in your pet’s mouth may indicate dental and gum disease. Have you been getting your pet’s teeth cleaned and checked annually?
- “I will stop jumping up on human guests when they come over. I will stop pulling on my leash and barking at other dogs when we go for walks.” – Papi Chulo, Chi mix
This resolution was sent in by a young, high-energy dog that simply needs good professional training. Impulse control must be learned.
And BTW, animal folk tend to regard city and county shelters as the enemy. The high kill rate is the emotional reason, but the fact is that many of these facilities offer valuable programs, including expert trainings, at very affordable prices.
- “So the neighbors will stop complaining and trying to get us evicted, I will stop howling when I’m alone in the apartment all day.” – Denali, Husky
That closing phrase is the key. In general, dogs don’t thrive in isolation. Canine social needs vary from breed to breed, and some breeds, especially big, high-energy, working dogs, are truly more pack-oriented than others.
No dog exemplifies this more than the Husky, who is completely unsuited for apartment living or for confinement and is miserable in solitude.
There’s Husky ephemera, which reads, “What part of ‘A-R-O-O-O-O-O-O-O’ do you not understand?”
For centuries, these Arctic dogs have been bred for teamwork. Huskies are truly happy when they are outdoors with other Huskies. They are born to run and require hard exercise (read: cardio) every day. If they don’t get it, they howl — not necessarily out of sadness, exactly, but as an SOS to their pack, which seems to have lost its way. When they’re bored and sedentary, they’ll also rip your sofa to shreds, bolt out an open window, scale a cinder block wall or dig under a fence just to find playmates.
If you do find yourself with a big dog in a small space, and not a lot of free time each day to engage with your canine, find other people who are in the same situation. Reach out via Husky fellowships, IRL networks and social media to connect with others nearby who may be able to include your dog on playdates while you’re away from home. Consult with your vet and groomer to post a notice of interest in their office and on their website. You are not alone!
- “I will not scratch the chairs and the doorways.” – Miss Priss, tabby DSH
Cats scratch stuff for several legit reasons, but irritating humans is not one of them. First of all, the scratch is always accompanied by a long, deep upper body stretch, which feels good to your cat. Second, the friction releases the outgrown keratin shell, which needs to pop off as the new claw naturally grows out. And, cats have small scent-glands on their paws, so scratching is a way to mark their territory.
All of this means that you need to provide attractive scratching areas for your cat. There are many options covered with carpeting or made of corrugated cardboard. Sprinkle these surfaces liberally with high-test catnip to get the party started.
And remember that when no other options are presented, upholstered furniture is a satisfying alternative for a cat. Perhaps not as satisfying for you, though.
Home for the Holidays…we hope
It’s darkest before dawn. We hate platitudes, but this one holds true in terms of winter daylight. Our days will continue to shorten until December 21, which is the winter solstice. Some of us will be painting ourselves blue and skipping around the firepit to celebrate the return of the light.
The 21st is also the feast day of Saint Lucy, Santa Lucia—her name means “light” in Latin. Lucy’s a big, big deal in Sweden, where pagan sun worship persists as part of Jűl traditions. This is also the saint associated with eyesight, which makes sense. She’s often portrayed sacrificing her extracted eyes like a pair of poached quail eggs — it’s a long story.
This shift is also present in the sacred tradition of Hanukkah, where one vial of lamp oil burned brightly for eight days while the Jewish resistance fighters called the Maccabees reclaimed and restored the Temple in Jerusalem circa 164 BCE. A little later, the Book of Matthew recounts a brilliant star in the east, spied from afar by three Magi, leading them to the newborn who would be called the Light of the World.
Calling human beings out of darkness into the light is the mainstay of both miraculous stories, and so it seems only right that we hope for miracles right now. One such miracle is the return of a lost pet.
We chatted with our friend rescuer, Darlene Papa, who fights the good feline fight every day at www.lifelineforpets.org, about what to do when a kitty gives you the slip. Thanks, Darlene, for these tips, which also apply in a general way to dogs, parakeets, pythons, etc., too.
What to do
1. Print out flyers and go door to door around your hood. Cats usually don’t go far. It could be hiding in some shrubbery. Take some favorite treats and crinkle the bag. But a scaredy-cat may not even respond to your voice. Repeat every day. Alert all neighbors. Get permission to check their yards and garages.
2. Set the (used, shtanky) litterbox outdoors. Sometimes, the familiar odor will bring a lost cat home. Same for a garment that you have often worn. Not to say that you “shtank,” but the noses of our pets pick up far subtler nuances of aroma (ask the DEA).
3. Post flyer on all social media, Petco Love Lost and on PawBoost.
4. Check nearby shelter Web sites daily for your missing pet.
5. Remember Darlene Papa’s LifeLineForPets. Scroll down, and you will find four helpful tips on finding a lost cat.
6. Don’t give up.
This week’s pets in need of homes:
Click on photos to see larger images and captions.
