Spoil Your Pet this Christm as

OPINION

For some reason I am getting

bombarded with pet costumes for Christmas appearing on my mobile phone. I have never bought a pet costume, the closest thing to a pet costume has been a collar with a bell for my cat.

So, when did dressing up your pet become so fashionable?

I would think maybe around the 2000s and it may have been socialite Paris Hilton and Mean

Girls star Lindsay Lohan who had something to do with the trend introducing their handbag dogs!

I have written about dressing up your pets before and I know a lot of us feel our pets are part of our family (me included), but I am not a huge fan of them wearing a

Christmas jersey or knitted antlers that are top heavy for a little dog’s head. Then there are pets who are made to wear a Santa on their back, Christmas PJs, hoddies, elf costumes, dresses, tutus, and even

Christmas hats!

A quick dress up for a holiday pic is ok maybe with a festive collar and bandana, but if they start to look uncomfortable…free them from the restraints of their accessories.

What your pet would really like for Christmas is a few tasty treats… maybe some ham or chicken freshly cooked and not from a pouch. Homemade doggie biscuits, a new bed or rug, a new

Frisbee, scratching pole, walk along the beach or just having some time spent with them.

We must think about our pets over summer, no leaving them in cars, plenty of shade and water, not to leave any of that Christmas chocolate around where they might find it and eat it.

One thing we must remember is that our pets communicate with their ears and tails, so it is not a clever idea to cover them up.

So come Christmas, how about a walk around the neighbourhood to see the lights on Christmas eve, drop off a food parcel to the SPCA or animal shelter to assist over the holiday period, plant some catnip and maybe pop a new toy in your dog’s Christmas stocking.