At the Shelter

'Tis the season for friends, family and holiday feasts - but also for possible distress for our animal companions. Pets won't be so thankful if they munch on undercooked turkey or a pet-unfriendly floral arrangement, or if they stumble upon an unattended alcoholic drink.

Check out the following tips from ASPCA experts for a fulfilling Thanksgiving that your pets can enjoy, too.

Talkin' turkey

If you decide to feed your pet a little nibble of turkey, make sure it's boneless and well-cooked. Don't offer her raw or undercooked turkey, which may contain salmonella bacteria.

Sage advice

Sage can make your Thanksgiving stuffing taste delish, but it and many other herbs contain essential oils and resins that can cause gastrointestinal upset and central nervous system depression to pets if eaten in large quantities. Cats are especially sensitive to the effects of certain essential oils.

No bread dough

Don't spoil your pet's holiday by giving him raw bread dough. According to ASPCA experts, when raw bread dough is ingested, an animal's body heat causes the dough to rise in his stomach. As it expands, the pet may experience vomiting, severe abdominal pain and bloating, which could become a life-threatening emergency, requiring surgery.

Don't let them eat cake

If you're baking up Thanksgiving cakes, be sure your pets keep their noses out of the batter, especially if it includes raw eggs - they could contain salmonella bacteria that may lead to food poisoning.

Too much of a good thing

A few small boneless pieces of cooked turkey, a taste of mashed potato or even a lick of pumpkin pie shouldn't pose a problem. However, don't allow your pets to overindulge, as they could wind up with a case of stomach upset, diarrhea or even worse - an inflammatory condition of the pancreas known as pancreatitis. In fact, it's best keep pets on their regular diets during the holidays.

A feast fit for a Kong

While the humans are chowing down, give your cat and dog their own little feast. Offer them rawhide strips, Nylabones or made-for-pet chew bones. Or stuff their usual dinner - perhaps with a few added tidbits of turkey, vegetables (try sweet potato or green beans) and dribbles of gravy - inside a Kong toy. They'll be happily occupied for awhile, working hard to extract their dinner from the toy.

(Source: ASPCA)

#21691, Sally Ann, is a large calico kitty who is already spayed and declawed. She is one of the most beautiful calicos we've seen. She is a sweet, docile cat who wants a lap to curl up on. Tuffy, #21680, is a 6-month-old tabby who has striking markings. He is a playful boy and wants a home with cat lovers, as do the rest of our adorable kittens and gorgeous cats. We have longhairs and shorthairs of every color. See a selection of cats and kittens at The Pet Stop, located on Mall Boulevard, behind Walmart.

Shadow, #49945, looks like he belongs on a Christmas card. He is a fluffy black retriever puppy and cute as can be. Shadow would make a wonderful child's pet/family dog or companion pet. Retrievers usually have a very sweet personality that lends itself to a home environment. #49923 is Bud, who was found abandoned in our fenced area last Sunday, bewildered and not understanding why he wasn't wanted. He is a handsome shepherd/husky mix who is heartworm negative. He is very smart, minds well, and is affectionate. Please give this boy the loving home he deserves. We have a full-blooded basset, a redbone coonhond who needs a fenced yard, adorable puppies, wonderful small housedogs, medium and larger dogs all desperately seeking homes. Their lives depend on adoption. We stay at capacity, receiving around 100 or more pets a week.

Check out many of our pets on dyerhumane.org or petfinder.com and type 38024 zip to see our site. The Pet Stop's "Almost Home" rescue has saved over 380 shelter dogs since Sept. 12, 2008.

A wonderful way to honor and remember your loved ones and beloved pets is by making a tax-deductible donation to the shelter. Specify how it should be directed. The Beagley Fund (heartworm treatment) is depleted and in need of replenishing. Heartworm positive dogs face certain death without treatment. Other options are Save a Life Makeover (professional grooming), General Fund, and Memorials. Your donations help us keep our doors open. Please mail your donations to Dyersburg-Dyer County Humane Society, P.O. Box 223, Dyersburg, TN 38025-0223. Thank you for helping the animals!

The Dyersburg-Dyer County Humane Society is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. and 9 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Saturday. We are located at 1120 E. Court and phone number is 285-4889.