Shelter animals need a little Christmas, too.
The Humane Society of Jackson County will have its annual Bring Christmas to the Animals event from 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday at the shelter, 1109 G Ave. West, Seymour.
"This will be the first year that the event will have drop-off donations, though," said board member Ellen Mirer, who has volunteered at the Humane Society for 22 years. "There will be people there to come and get the items out of your car for you."
With the current state of the pandemic, the pet photo sessions with Santa planned for Saturday morning at Paws-N-Klaws Pet Parlor have been canceled.
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According to the shelter’s Facebook page, there are several items the organization currently needs, including bleach, paper towels, laundry detergent, cat litter (not scoopable), Purina Dog Chow (green bag), Purina Cat Chow (blue bag), Purina Puppy Chow and Purina Kitten Chow.
The shelter also is in need of garbage bags, both large black bags and kitchen-sized white bags, Febreze, Kong dog toys and Nylabones, moist dog treats, such as bacon strips, and dog biscuits.
New throw-type blankets (no used bedding), gift cards to Dollar General, Ace Hardware and stores where pet supplies are sold or gas cards and cash are always appreciated.
The Humane Society of Jackson County is a private nonprofit animal welfare organization that has served the residents and animals of Seymour for close to 30 years.
The organization provides short-term shelter care for animals, lost and found services and adoptions and offers advice regarding animal health.
Food, water, exercise, medication and necessary veterinary care are provided to the animals. Services are provided by the staff, and many hours are donated by the board members and volunteers.
The organization is committed to saving as many lives as possible and provides shelter for both dogs and cats.
"The adoptions have been going very well because people have been staying home," Mirer said. "They have more time to take care of a pet now, and we’ve probably had more adoptions for cats than we ever have before."
Buying a pet as a Christmas present, however, is not recommended, she said.
"The person receiving a pet might not be ready for one or even want one," Mirer said. "It would be better to wait until after the holidays and let the person choose the pet they want when they are ready for one."
Mirer said when the COVID-19 pandemic hit, she thought things at the shelter might coming to a screeching halt, but it hasn’t.
"The number of pet adoptions has been going up just about everywhere," she said. "Some shelters have had to close down, but we’ve just gone to appointment only."
Julie Luecke, manager of the Humane Society, takes the appointments at the shelter. Those interested in adopting may email the shelter at [email protected] to make an appointment.
Dogs and cats available for adoption can be viewed online at petfinder.com and sisaveapet.com.
No funding is received from the Humane Society of the United States or other national humane organizations.
The shelter relies on funds provided by the city of Seymour and donations from people who support the shelter through goodwill donations, fundraising events and memorial sponsorships.
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What: Bring Christmas to the Animals drive-thru donation drop-off
When: 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday
Where: Humane Society of Jackson County, 1109 G Ave. West, Seymour
Information: Call 812-522-5200 or visit facebook.com/jchumane or jchumane.org.
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Be careful with seasonal plants and decorations
- Securely anchor your Christmas tree so it doesn’t tip and fall, causing possible injury to your pet.
- Avoid mistletoe and holly because when ingested, holly can cause pets to suffer nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Mistletoe can cause gastrointestinal and cardiovascular problems.
- Go tinsel-less, as cats are attracted to it and a nibble can lead to an obstructed digestive tract and more.
- Don’t leave lighted candles unattended. Pets may burn themselves or cause a fire if they knock candles over.
- Keep wires, batteries and glass or plastic ornaments out of paws’ reach.
Avoid holiday food dangers
- Do not feed your pets chocolate or anything sweetened with xylitol and make sure to keep your pets away from the table and unattended plates of food.
- Fatty, spicy and leftover human foods, as well as bones, should not be fed to your pets, either. Also, be sure to secure the lids on garbage cans.
- Be sure to place your unattended alcoholic drinks where pets cannot get to them. If ingested, your pet could become weak, ill and may even go into a coma, possibly resulting in death from respiratory failure.
Source: aspca.org/pet-care/general-pet-care/holiday-safety-tips
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