A Bear In Rabbit's Clothing

The Easter Bunny and his furry friends held their last meeting before the big day, which is drawing very close now. A simple tea in the garden with plans for "the best egg hiding place" being one of the main talking points.

Mr. Bear, wearing his favorite "I'm a Bunny at heart hat" gave the keynote speech

on "Easter Safety Tips for Household Pets"

1. Easter floral arrangements should be kept out of the reach of household pets, especially those containing Lilies, amaryllis, and kalanchoe.

2. CHOCOLATE

Chocolate is toxic to pets due to the ingredient theobromine. Different types of chocolate contain different levels of theobromine, but any amount is considered dangerous. Any candy containing Xylitol can be toxic to pets. Please do NOT hide chocolate in your garden where it might be found by a pet.

Some of the other food stuffs that may be dangerous to your pets:

Alcoholic beverages

Apple seeds

Apricot pits

Avocados

Cherry pits

Coffee (grounds, beans, chocolate covered espresso beans)

Grapes

Hops (used in home beer brewing)

Macadamia nuts

Moldy foods

Mushroom plants

Mustard seeds

Onions and onion powder

Peach pits

Potato leaves and stems (green parts)

Raisins

Rhubarb leaves

Salt

Tea (caffeine)

Tomato leaves and stems (green parts)

Walnuts

Yeast dough

3. Cellophane Easter Grass

Easter grass is the close cousin to Christmas tinsel and it can be a serious pet safety issue as well. The strands can get caught in the intestinal tract which can result in life-threatening obstructions. Replace cellophane Easter grass with a safe alternative

like shredded newspaper.

4. Table Scraps

Table scraps can pose lots of health hazards to your pets. Many table foods can not be digested by dogs or cats which can lead to gastro-intestinal upset. Remember that improperly handled Easter eggs pose the same threat to your pets that they do to you.

5. Baby Chicks and Rabbits

Instead of purchasing a live chick or a bunny for a child's Easter basket, consider a stuffed animal instead. The toys don't pose potential health risks, can withstand tight squeezes, and don't end up at the local animal shelter by May Day.

Sir Homer of Laughlin was the delegate in attendance from the "Household Pets United Association."  He kept his distance, but was very attentive during the safety tips presentation.

Please have a SAFE and Happy Easter!