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Thanksgiving can go to the dogs
Posted By Nancy Houser on November 26, 2009
Now that the big Thanksgiving meal is over for most families, I wonder if anyone asks the question, “What does Thanksgiving mean to dogs?” Obviously, to dogs who are lucky enough to have a loving family it means turkey and holiday meal leftovers, getting to lick the plate in many homes or even get some cut up mouthwatering roasted turkey with their usual dog food. But Thanksgiving can go to the dogs in more ways than one.
At this time of year, family pets are usually treated more loving and with more kindness on a holiday where we are known to thank God for what we have, where we assist those less fortunate by donating our help at Thanksgiving meals, offering free food and clothing for the upcoming winter to those less fortunate. The heart seems to be more open with compassion than at any other time.
But very few consider the dogs who are at loose and still struggle for food and shelter to survive. Many of these dogs will smell the leftovers of delicious meals they have only been able to dream about, digging in trash cans to hopefully devour small bits of the leftover Thanksgiving meals.
Turkey bones are very dangerous for dogs to eat, getting caught in their digestive tracks with splintered bones. Going from a starvation diet to one of high fat content and too much meat being consumed at once can make a stray dog very ill. Of course, having the trash bag littered all over the alley or yard does little to help one celebrate Thanksgiving kindly.
Double bagging the holiday meal remains before taking it outside and then placing it inside a very secure trash can will prevent a bone or bone fragment from getting lodged inside their intestines. But there are other ways to show kindness to homeless dogs.
WAYS TO CELEBRATE THANKSGIVING WITH HOMELESS DOGS
Living in a shelter is a lonely world for dogs who are used to living with a family, but is a guaranteed meal and shelter for dogs who have been living on the streets. Donating to local animal shelters will help homeless dogs get food and bedding, or even volunteering to care for them will make sure they still can get kindness and loving.
Dogs who have been placed in shelters come from a wide variety of backgrounds, and have different behaviors—both good and bad. But most bad behavior has arisen from the hands of neglectful or harsh abusive owners. A lot of stray dogs have never seen a hand risen in anything but pain and abuse. One thing all dogs deserve is their fair share of love and kindness, especially on a holiday where many people are thanking God for the good things in their live.
This is a time to share what we have been given….compassion, empathy, kindness, love and decency toward those less fortunate. If you cannot do anything else, keep a clean bowl of water and a dish of dry dog food for strays living on the streets, placing them daily at the back gate to prevent them from starving to death in a land of plenty. Hopefully, with a little bit of kindness and attention, this stray dog will eventually find a home and love.
Related posts:
- The Dog’s Tips for Thanksgiving
- Funny Thanksgiving Turkeys
- Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone…
- PHOTOS: “Dog days after Thanksgiving”
- Promoting “Feeding Pets of the Homeless”
[...] Turkey bones are very dangerous for dogs to eat, getting caught in their digestive tracks with splintered bones. Double bagging the holiday meal remains before taking it outside and then placing it inside a very secure trash can will .. read more [...]