Christmas is for Pets, Too
By Sandy Miller, The Times-News, Twin Falls, Idaho,, The Times-News, Twin Falls, Idaho,
Dec. 24–TWIN FALLS — Christmas isn’t just for kids.
It’s for dogs and cats, too. And probably a few horses, goats and a gerbil or two.
“We treat them just like part of the family, like our grandchildren,” said Jim Davis of Twin Falls. He and his wife, Charlene, are the proud pet parents of Cindy Anne the cocker spaniel and Cleo the German shorthair.
“We wrap gifts — all kinds of toys — and they help open them,” he said. “We just treat them like part of the family.”
Their son Scott’s dog, Roxanne the Dalmatian, is pampered every day but especially during the holidays.
“She usually wears her Santa hat,” Scott Davis said. “She’s got one with a ribbon. I usually take her picture under the tree. She gets presents and opens them. I let her open my presents because she enjoys opening presents.”
Christmas is also a doggie affair over at the Severa place in Burley.
“I buy for my dog, Jed,” Abbie Severa said. “He is my 2-year-old chocolate Labrador and my baby.”
In his own special way, Jed helps deck the halls.
“Jed helps me put up the Christmas lights and decorate the tree,” Severa said. “He gets tangled up in the lights for me.”
And there are presents under the tree for Jed, too, including a guardian angel dog tag and some chew and squeaky toys.
“He has bones for his stocking, too,” Severa said. “It says ‘Dogs love Christmas, too.’”
In fact, Jed has a dog biscuit named after him.
“The last two years, I have baked dog biscuits for my company’s holiday craft fair,” Severa said. “They are a peanut butter mixture labeled, ‘Uncle Jed’s Good Boy Biscuits.’ I have sold out each year.”
Severa said it just seems natural to include Jed on her Christmas list.
“He’s a member of the family,” she said. “If you see something you know they’d like, you have to get it for them.”
Gary DeGeronimo, a local canine behavior specialist, said it’s perfectly fine for people to include their pets in their holiday celebrations. But he said it’s important to keep things in perspective.
“Animals don’t have a concept it’s a special day. However, they do know there’s more attention being given to them,” DeGeronimo said. “There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. It’s OK as long as people understand this is fun for their dogs because they’re getting more attention and they’re seeing their owners happy, which gives them a good feeling.”
DeGeronimo said it’s also important to make sure people give safe gifts.
“Make absolutely certain there’s nothing that could hurt your animal — no glitter on the wrapping or ribbons the animal could choke on,” he said. “Make it a moment you supervise just as you would with a young child.”
Santa also pays a visit to Ann and John White’s pets, Gretta Von Schnauzer, a 7-year-old miniature schnauzer, and Siamese cats Cheech and Chong.
“They all get presents,” Ann White said.
And Gretta just seems to know which gifts are hers.
“She doesn’t bother to open anything that doesn’t belong to her,” White said.
And Gretta enjoys showing off her gifts.
“If she gets a stuffed toy, she’ll want everyone to see him,” White said. “She’ll take him to everyone and show them.”
Animals, White said, have always been a part of the family.
“She’s a little person in a fur coat,” White said.
Times-News writer Sandy Miller can be reached at 735-3264 or by e-mail at smiller@magicvalley.com.
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