Deck the DIY gift ideas: Homemade mason jar lid Christmas tree ornaments
Christmas isn't just a time for giving; it's also a time for crafting! I love mixing the two and making my family homemade Christmas gifts every year. Sometimes I make my own cards, sometimes I bake- I've even made my own candles using teacups found at yard sales and thrift stores. But my favourite Christmas craft is mason jar lid tree ornaments.
Handmade holiday: The ULTIMATE holiday gift guide for your pet
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This post contains affiliate links to cool stuff!
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Shopping online is more popular because of the Covid-19 pandemic, just like shopping locally has become more crucial. Many local family-owned businesses have created online stores to offer their products to the community safely. But what if you can't find what you're looking for locally? Should you search on Amazon? Nope! There's another way!
Christmas mourning: How to cope with your first holiday season after losing a pet
I'm forcing myself to be festive this year. I've had times in my life when I skipped Christmas altogether. "I'm not Christmasing this year," I'd say when people asked me standard holiday questions like "Do you have your tree up yet?" This year I'm forcing myself to be festive for the sake of my mental health. One small reason is the COVID-19 pandemic has sucked so much happiness out of 2020 that I'm trying to infuse some of the obligatory Christmas joy into what's left of the year. The biggest reason for my forced festivities is Keira. More specifically the loss of Keira I suffered earlier this year.
Toxic food, dangerous decorations, and problematic parties: How to keep your pet safe from dangerous holiday hazards
I enjoy holiday food and festivities! As much as I know Hazel loves her advent calendar and opening her stocking on Christmas morning, I'm well aware that including her in some holiday traditions has me barking up the wrong Christmas tree. The holidays can be loud and scary for a pet. It can be sensory overload, and at times they can feel threatened. Your pet is a valued member of the family, and ensuring they are safe and comfortable during this festive season is important. The holidays pose many risks for your pet- health risks as well as a risk of heightened anxiety. Christmas dangers are everywhere, so it's important to keep your pet safe. I've put together a comprehensive list of holiday hazards and tips about how to keep your pet safe during the Christmas season.
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life is good -pete Foter CC BY-NC-ND |
Holiday hazards: How to keep cats and dogs safe around the Christmas
tree
Christmas is just around the corner and for many that means a tree and decorations. Twinkling lights and glistening tinsel may
be appealing to the eye but for pets the Christmas tree holds a special fascination that can
lead to danger. Something seemingly harmless like a Christmas tree can turn
deadly to a dog or cat. Pet parents can to take certain precautions to
make inviting a Christmas tree- real or fake- into their home safer for their furry family members. This is how to pet proof your tree and have a safe and merry Christmas!
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Photo by not_really_art Foter CC BY-ND |
Holiday dog toys: Top 5 Christmas gifts for your dog
Are you looking for a fun dog toy to gift to your pet
this Christmas? Look no further! These funny toys and Christmas themed stuffed
play-things are sure to not only entertain your pooch but the whole
Christmas party. Paws For Reaction has handpicked five dog toys that will make
perfect Christmas gifts for your pet this holiday season. We will link you to fantastic sales and deals on dog toys that your pet will rejoice over on Christmas morning.
The 12 ways of Christmas: 12 ways you can support animals, wildlife, and children in need
On the first day of Christmas, my community gave to me a helping hand and a second chance. I've decided to kick the 12 days of Christmas to the curb and replace it with the 12 ways of Christmas. Don't worry, I still included some birds! This year has been a struggle and the community needs your support and generosity. During the Covid-19 pandemic, the Ontario Government has supported people's financial struggles. But what about support for those who rarely voice their needs: pets, wildlife, nature, and children? Paws For Reaction is a voice for the voiceless, and that's what the 12 ways of Christmas are all about.
Merry Christmas: Ottawa veterinary practices are suffering during the holidays
Hazel and I wish everyone a very Furry Christmas! It's been a busy December for us and it will only get busier if we head into what looks like another inevitable lockdown. We hope we do go into lockdown because we want everyone to be safe. All we want for Christmas is for everyone to get fully vaccinated.
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Photo by TempusVolat Foter CC BY-NC-SA |
Nightmare before Christmas: Crazy cats and bad dogs ruin Christmas
The Christmas tree can be a source of curiosity and
wonder for a pet. Who can blame them- we put a giant tree in the house, hang
twinkling shiny things around and wrap objects in crinkly paper. Not to mention
we hang balls from it! It is sensory overload for our pets and it usually ends
up in disaster.
“You brought in a tree and hung balls from it- I honestly thought it was
for me!” –Every cat
ever
Most pet parents are all too familiar with the
mischievous behavior that a Christmas tree can bring out of our pets. These
photos are of dogs and cats that have ruined Christmas by trashing their
Christmas trees and decorations- or the gifts under it! These aren't
necessarily bad dogs and cats- they just don’t have much Christmas spirit.
Check out these pets saying BA HUMBUG to Christmas!
Green
Christmas: Eco friendly wrapping paper for holiday gifts
Here in Ontario, Canada we have yet to see a real snow
fall which is very unusual for this area. It is so clear that climate change is
impacting our planet in a big way. I am always looking for a way to be more
eco-friendly and try to make green choices in my home. The holiday season
creates a lot of waste so I decided since Ontario is having a green Christmas I
may as well have a green Christmas in my home!
This Christmas I decided not to buy any Christmas wrapping
paper at all. Instead, I used old magazines and comic books that I don’t read
anymore and wrapped gifts with the pages. I taped them together like a mosaic around
all of my holiday gifts. Any gifts that went in bags went in re-used gift bags
I have saved from previous years.
Doggy Christmas gift idea: Tasty treat and the gift of giving #DOGforDOGPetSmart
This post is sponsored by DOG for DOG and the BlogPaws Professional Pet Blogger Network. I am being compensated for helping spread the word about DOG for DOG being available at PetSmart Canadian stores but Paws For Reaction only shares information we feel is relevant to our readers. DOG for DOG and PetSmart are not responsible for the content of this article.
The magic of the holidays is in the air and I am looking for gifts to go in Hazel and Keira’s stocking. This is Hazel’s first Christmas and I want it to be special. I was really excited when I heard about DOG for DOG pet treats because for every item they sell they donate all-natural DOGSFOOD to help feed dogs in need! This is the season of giving so I had to get involved and try some of their products.
DOG for DOG is all about providing dogs with tasty and nutritious food, because every dog deserves that! DOG for DOG includes three different types of treats that I am sampling with my girls. They are all available at Canadian PetSmart locations:
DOGSBUTTER: Peanut butter for dogs! This product was inspired by all natural peanut butter at the Los Angeles Farmers Market. It is gluten free with no added salt, sugar or hydrogenated oils. A lot of human-grade peanut butter on the market today contains the sugar substitute xylitol that if ingested is toxic to dogs. This peanut butter is safe for my dog and it is nutritious too. It is perfect because Hazel loves peanut butter in her Kong!
Paw it forward: OSPCA Howliday campaigns helping pets and people in the Renfrew County community
There are many creatures stirring this holiday season, and some of those creatures need your help. Do you remember the amazing holiday campaigns the Ontario SPCA Renfrew County Animal Centre launched that I featured on Paws For Reaction? I reconnected with Heather Jobe, the Community Development Coordinator, to get an update on how their holiday season is going.
Festive felines: Cats celebrating Christmas
These kitties are
anxiously awaiting Santa Claus and are sure to put you in the Christmas mood! Sometimes it is hard to tell if they
are enjoying Christmas or not. Either way, they are adorable! Do you have a photo of your cat celebrating Christmas? Tweet us @PawsForReaction! Share it with us on Facebook!
Small animal pets wishing you a Merry Christmas
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Photo by kitkatherine Foter.com CC BY-NC
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Bark the halls: Merry Christmas and happy holidays from Hazel
This holiday season we were gifted with further Covid-19 lockdowns in Ontario. I know for folks in assisted living facilities, small business owners, non-essential workers, and single people who live alone, this news is a tough turkey to swallow. For the next 28 days, some of us will be separated from the people we love the most. It will be difficult, but we will get through this together.
These dogs want to celebrate Christmas with you!
Thank you to all of our amazing readers! Keira and I are forever grateful! Have a very Merry Christmas from Paws For Reaction!
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Photo by melanie Foter CC BY-N
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Under your wing: How you can help wild birds survive the winter
Season's Tweetings! Birds fly into your life providing majestic beauty and songs to brighten your day. During the winter months, birds need extra help finding food, shelter, and help when they are hurt. The Ottawa Valley Wild Bird Care Centre (OVWBCC) works tirelessly through the winter- and the rest of the year- to take birds under their wing. The OVWBCC team knows that one small act of kindness can help save a bird's life. Patty McLaughlin, Education and Public Engagement Coordinator at OVWBCC, and her team are working hard to raise awareness about the help birds need throughout the winter and I was fortunate enough to get expert tips about how to support the wild bird community this holiday season. I had many questions for Patty. How can you help wild birds survive the harsh winter weather? What do birds need in the winter to help them find food, shelter, and medical care? What can I do at home?
Christmas gift idea for
the animal lover and all my single ladies
The inspirational 2015 Tailsof NYC RescueMen Calendar will give you a double dose of cute and it raises money for a great cause. The calendar
features 12 true stories about New York City men who rescued animals in need- ladies
listen up!