We wanted to tell everyone to have a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful holiday season, whatever you celebrate. We here will be taking a break for a week or so, so we won’t be around until around the New Year.

We hope your holiday is filled with love and happiness, and we wish all of our readers the very best. Please check back with us in a week or so, and look forward to our next newsletter coming out January 5!

Happy Howl-idays!

Jaime, Benson, Gibson, Sasha and Theodore

So you’ve had a terrible day. Your car broke down, your company did layoffs, you lost your wallet, and you’re now coming down with a cold. You get home, unlock the door, and you’re greeted by a wagging tail, sloppy kisses, and some kitty-cat rub-downs. What better medicine is there than that?

Most pet owners don’t need to be told the benefits of pet ownership. We know we get unconditional love, frequent amusement, and undying adoration from our pets. We know they help us feel better after a bad day. They are our constant companions. But there are also some unseen benefits of pet ownership. For example, did you know that owning a pet can actually be good for you? That petting a cat or dog can reduce your blood pressure?

Here is a list of the benefits of pet ownership, taken from Second Chance for Animals and other sources:

1. Pet owners have lower blood pressure and lower cholesterol levels and in general, this puts them at a reduced risk for heart disease.

2. Pet owners report fewer headaches, fewer bouts of indigestion and less difficulty sleeping.

3. Dog owners in particular, exercise more, though you can certainly get exercise playing with an energetic cat or kitten.

4. Pets help safeguard against depression or loneliness.

5. Pets actually help improve social skills.

6. For children, owing a pet improves their self esteem – someone who loves them unconditionally and wants their undivided attention.

7. Pets reduce the number of visits to a doctor by elderly patients.

8. Pets help to ease loss. An older person whose spouse has died is less likely to experience deterioration in health if he or she is attached to a pet.

According to Swedish.org, “Researchers have observed that older adults who own pets are less likely to use physician services unnecessarily. Other research has suggested that owning a dog can reduce the impact of stresses encountered in day-to-day life. In addition, studies have found that pets in the workplace are perceived to relieve employee stress, make the environment friendlier, provide a pleasant diversion from work, and provide companionship. These benefits may even be passed on to customers who encounter pets in businesses, giving a favorable impression of a company and fostering social interaction.”

That study also found these benefits of having a pet to be true:

- Pets provide companionship and pleasurable activity
- They facilitate exercise, play, and laughter
- We have something to care for and a source of consistency
- They allow a feeling of security
- They are a comfort to touch and a pleasure to watch
- They provide a link with reality to enhance emotional stability
- Become a receptive partner in a relationship of mutual trust that promotes self-awareness
- They provide nonjudgmental acceptance and love
- They offer an improved sense of well-being

So there really is a lot more to owning a pet than meets the eye. Consider these facts if you or someone you know is thinking about adopting a pet soon. I know having pets is one of the best decisions I ever made, and I am grateful for my animals every day.

I had so many good entries for this contest, I actually had to narrow it down to a Top 5 and then pick the winner out of a hat! Drumroll please….

The winner of the December Caption Contest is…

JULIE SIDLER! Her caption was: “Reindog for hire! Will work for bones, pawsitively hard working.”

The other four entries that made the Top 5 were these:

- From Rebecca: “This is what happens when they spike the egg nog!”
- From Lorraine Fitzsimmons: “I’ve heard of mixed breeds, but you’ve got to be kidding.”
- From Mistress Meeyee: “So,they like Christmas,huh? Wait til they see the Christmas present I left them on the kitchen floor.”
- From Miss M: “…moral of the story: never fall asleep when Rudolph is allowed to join in any reindeer games.”

Thanks so much to everyone who entered the December Caption Contest. Stay tuned to find out what the January contest and prize will be! As always, thanks for reading and participating.

It’s time again for the Cutest Kitty of the Week, photos courtesy Webshots, which is owned by my company, American Greetings. These photos, posted in the Kittens section, were posted by Webshots user ocampas, in the album called Nala’s Newborn.

You can find tons more cute kitten pictures of these guys over at Webshots in the Nala’s Newborn album. I also encourage you to peruse around the general Kittens section, there are some kitten pictures over there that are too cute for words to describe!

Please everyone send your purr-rayers and good thoughts our way. My family (my sister) has lost their 10-year-old beloved Pit Bull mix, Tux. “Tucky” was a sweet, sweet dog who loved to play with sticks bigger than he was, go for fast walks and sit right on your lap. He had to be laid to rest yesterday. It’s been a very rough 24 hours around here.

To Ashly:
Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge.
There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together.
There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor; those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.

They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent; His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together….

Author unknown

**We love you Tucky and we will miss you dearly. We can’t wait to see you again one day and we know that last night there was one star up in heaven shining a little bit brighter.**
Love,
Jaime

Author Unknown

Everyone take heed…and please pass this around to everyone thinking of getting a puppy or dog this holiday season…
——————————————————————————————-

Twas the night before Christmas
when all thru the house

Not a creature was stirring
not even a mouse.

The stockings were hung by the chimney with care
In hopes that St. Nick soon would be there.

The children all nestled snug in their beds
With no thought of the dog filling their head.

And mom in her kerchief and I in my cap
Knew the dog was cold, but didn’t care about that.

When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter
I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter.

Away to the window I flew like a flash
Figuring the dog was free of his chain and into the trash.

The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow
gave the luster of mid-day to objects below.

When what to my wondering eyes should appear
But Santa Clause with his eyes full of tears.

He unchained the dog once so lively and quick
Last year’s Christmas present now painfully sick.

More rapid than eagles he called the dog’s name
and the dog ran to him despite all his pain.

Now Dasher, now Dancer, now Prancer and Vixen
On Comet on Cupid on Donner and Blitzen.

To the top of the porch to the top of the wall
Let’s find this dog a home where he will be loved by all.

I knew in an instant there would be no gifts this year
For Santa had made one thing quite clear.

The gift of a dog is not just for the season
We had gotten the dog for all the wrong reasons.

In our haste to think of the kids a gift
There was one important thing we missed

A dog should be family, and cared for the same
You don’t give a gift, then put it on a chain.

And I heard him explain as he rode out of site,
“You weren’t given a gift, you were given a life.”

Wow, check it out! Our good friends over at The Real Cats gave us this neato award: (thanks so much guys!)

We thinks it’s hard to understand since it’s not English or kitty speak, but here’s what it means and here are the rules:

“This blog invests and believes in the PROXIMITY – nearness in space, time and relationships! These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in prizes or self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut, even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers! Deliver this award to eight bloggers who must choose eight more and include this cleverly-written text into the body of their award.”

Oh boy! We can choose 8 people to give this to, so we are going to choose a couple of woofies, too. We want to give this award to William of Mass Destruction, Mr. Hendrix, Darrin and Josy at My Cute Pet Pics, the crew at Jan’s Funny Farm, Chasing Squirrels with Rusty, Brandi over at Catitude, The Adventures of Spencer (big, nice golden woofie), and finally, to Amy at A Dog Rescuer’s Life (she saves woofies’ lives all the time, what a neat lady!).

Thanks again Real Cats and Maggie May for our neato award! And happy holidays to everyone!

Some of the contest entries I’ve been receiving are quite funny. I wanted to share a few more of them with you today… here they are, and here’s the picture accompanying the captions.

- From reader Courtney, “The crap I have to put up with. O.K. NO MORE PICTURES, THIS IS EMBARASSING!!”

- From reader Sheila, “Santa, Schmanta, where’s the biscuit you promised me for wearing
this goofy get-up?”

- From reader Keni, “Tell Santa to bring a box of chewies or the snowman gets it…”

- From reader Tiffany, “Why do I have to do this EVERY year?”

- From reader Katha, “Happy Frickin’ Christmas! Okay now get me out of this outfit!”

- From reader Miss M, “Moral of the story: never fall asleep when Rudolph is allowed to join in any reindeer games.”

- From reader Mike, “And I’m supposed to scare off burglars?!”

- From reader Rebecca, “This is what happens when they spike the egg nog!”

- From reader Patty, “You think the dog is bad? What you don’t know is that that’s their 3-year-old dressed as the Christmas snowman!”

- From reader Renee, “Well — as long as I don’t have to pull the Grinch’s sleigh I guess I can live with this…”

- From reader J.A. “You mean Santa really isn’t getting a bailout this year?”

- From reader Gail, “Which way to Florida?”

- From reader Carol, “Can someone scratch behind my antlers?”

- From reader Rusty, “Just take the stupid picture already!”

- From reader Gloria, “I should have stayed in the pound.”

- From reader Ashley, “But I don’t wanna take Rudolph’s place at the front of the sleigh!”

What’s your favorite caption? See all the captions on last week’s post as well and let me know what your favorite is. Winner will be announced on December 19!

Thanks to the ASPCA newsletter for this story.

I think many of us have heard rumblings of Poinsettias being poisonous to our pets. I know in my house we always keep the beautiful red plants away from cat-level reach and we try to monitor the cats when they’re around them at all times. But according to the ASPCA, that might not be necessary…

“With daylight at a premium and fall color a thing of the past, a vibrant poinsettia plant is a great way to brighten your home this holiday season. But aren’t poinsettias super poisonous to pets, you ask? Not so, says the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center. According to our experts, rumors of the plant’s toxicity are exaggerated—perpetuated by a longstanding myth.

A subtropical shrub indigenous to Central and Southern Mexico, the poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) first appeared in the United States in the 1820s. The myth of the plant’s toxicity spread in the early 20th century when the two-year-old child of a U.S. Army officer allegedly died from eating a poinsettia leaf. In truth, a 50-pound child would have to eat more than 600 poinsettia leaves to exceed experimental doses that produced no toxic effects.

In the last 12 months, the Animal Poison Control Center managed 84 cases involving ingestions of poinsettias, but the most common result was an upset stomach. According to Dana Farbman, CVT, ASPCA Senior Manager of Professional Communications, “Ingestion of poinsettias typically only produces mild to moderate gastrointestinal irritation in pets, which may include drooling, vomiting and diarrhea.” Because of the plant’s low toxic potential, veterinary treatment isn’t usually necessary, Farbman reports, but in certain situations it may help to give your pet a few sips of water or milk to diminish stomach upset.

To prevent digestive problems, pet parents should keep poinsettias out of reach, but it’s not necessary to banish the festive plant altogether. Lilies, on the other hand, are also common holiday flowers, but many of those varieties—including tiger, Asian, Japanese show, stargazer and the Casablanca—can cause kidney failure in cats, even in tiny amounts.

As always, if you suspect your pet has eaten something toxic, please contact your vet or the ASPCA’s 24-hour hotline at (888) 426-4435. For more information about toxic and nontoxic plants, please visit APCC online.”

[Image courtesy ASPCA]

Do you have any dog-lovers on your holiday gift list this year? Do you want to feature your own Fido in a creative way? Well I just found the perfect gift for them (or for you, whatever)…it’s a photo calendar with a dog theme! PhotoWorks created this neat calendar with dog lovers like us in mind.

There are a few cool things about this doggie photo calendar. First, you can start it on any month you want; it doesn’t have to be January. Second, you get to choose two photos of Fido per month and one awesome photo for the cover. From the PhotoWorks website: “Show off your photos of your favorite canine friend in this calendar tribute to dogs. Add captions and custom dates to your calendar. Perfect for home, office or gift giving. Choose your start month and design your cover to create a museum-quality calendar. Hangs from a European-style hanger for a polished look and durability.”

How cool is that? I’m planning on creating two of these for Christmas gifts this year. And this dog photo calendar is definitely on my wish list this year, too. I’m going to have to drop hints here and there and let my friends know I want one for myself!