When you think of the things that truly make it feel like the holidays, what comes to mind? Twinkling lights, wrapped gifts under the tree, holiday cookies, and delicious meals are just a few of the things that make the season bright. For curious pets, many of the things we look forward to each year can be tempting, or even dangerous. In fact, Pet Poison Helpline receives more calls about possible poisonings in November and December than at any other time of year. But don’t let this worry you! We’ve put together a comprehensive guide to help keep your festivities merry and your pets safe through Christmas, Hanukkah, New Year’s, or whatever holidays you celebrate.

Sweet Treats and Holiday Feasts

For those of you who love baking, this time of year means that your kitchen and counters are full of cookies, candy, and rich dishes. Chocolate is one of the most commonly used items in holiday baking, and it’s also one of the most dangerous for dogs. In 2025, chocolate made up 13.6% of the pet exposures reported to ASPCA Animal Poison Control. A whopping 95% of last year’s chocolate calls to the Pet Poison Helpline were for dogs. Another highly toxic substance for dogs is xylitol. This sweetener is commonly found in sugar-free candy, gum, and baked goods. When consumed, it can cause a dangerous drop in blood sugar and liver failure in dogs. Protect your pet(s) by keeping sweets and leftovers well out of reach, and ask guests not to share snacks from their plates.

Holiday foods to keep away from pets:

• Chocolate, cocoa, and chocolate-covered treats

• Sugar-free candy, gum, and baked goods that contain xylitol

• Grapes, raisins, and fruitcake

• Onions, garlic, and dishes seasoned with them

• Ham, fatty meats, gravy, and cooked bones

• Unbaked yeast dough

• Alcohol, including eggnog and holiday cocktails

Gifts and Stocking Stuffers

Presents under the tree can be just as tempting as anything on the table. A pet with a good nose may sniff out food gifts tucked inside wrapping paper and could be tempted to get to those items inside. Ribbon, string, and bows can cause serious intestinal blockages if swallowed. ASPCA Animal Poison Control also saw an increase in the past year of cases involving flavored chewable pet products, like calming and joint supplements, which pets may treat like candy if they find the whole bag. Store pet treats and medications in a closed cabinet, and clean up wrapping materials as soon as gifts are opened.

Decking the Halls

Lights, ornaments, and greenery are a big part of the season, but they can catch the eye of a curious cat or playful pup. Tinsel and ribbon are especially risky for cats, who may swallow long strands that can tangle in their intestines and require surgery. Secure your tree to a wall or ceiling hook so it can't tip over, and keep pets from drinking the tree water, which can upset their stomach or contain harmful additives. Tuck away or cover electrical cords, hang shatterproof ornaments on the lower branches, and choose flameless candles, especially around wagging tails.

Holiday plants deserve a second look, too. Lilies often show up in holiday bouquets and arrangements, and they are extremely toxic to cats, where even a small amount can lead to kidney failure. Mistletoe and holly can also make pets very sick, and poinsettias can cause mouth and stomach irritation. Consider artificial options, or keep live plants and arrangements where pets can't reach them.

Houseguests and Holiday Travel

Many pets thrive on routine, so a house full of guests, new smells, and extra noise can be overwhelming. Set up a quiet room with your pet's bed, water, and a favorite toy where they can retreat when they need a break. Ask visitors to keep their medications zipped inside a suitcase or stored up high, since pills dropped by guests are a common reason for holiday calls to Pet Poison Helpline. Keep an eye on the door as guests come and go, and make sure your pet's ID tags and microchip information are up to date.

If you're traveling this season, share your pet's routine, behavior, and health needs with your pet sitter or boarding facility before you leave. Pets riding in the car should always be secured in a carrier or with a seatbelt harness to keep both them and you safe. If you're considering flying with your pet, check with your veterinarian first, since air travel can be stressful or even risky for some pets.

Ringing in the New Year

Fireworks and noisemakers can be frightening for many pets, and a startled pet may try to run. Keep pets indoors during celebrations, close the curtains, and play soft music or white noise to help muffle the booms. If your pet struggles with loud noises, talk to your veterinarian ahead of time about options to help them stay calm. And as the countdown begins, keep champagne, cocktails, and party snacks out of reach.

Be Prepared for Emergencies

Even the most careful pet parents can be surprised by a pet who gets into something they shouldn't. Before the holidays begin, save the numbers for your family veterinarian and your nearest 24-hour emergency clinic, and know how to get there. If you think your pet ate something harmful, call right away instead of waiting for symptoms, since some toxins don't cause signs for hours.

• ASPCA Animal Poison Control: 888-426-4435

• Pet Poison Helpline: 855-764-7661

• Local emergency vets: Keep a list of your closest 24-hour clinics. You can always refer to our list here.

A consultation fee may apply when calling either poison control line.

With a little preparation, you can make sure the season is joyful, safe, and full of wagging tails and happy purrs. From all of us at HSSW, we wish you and your furry family members a happy and healthy holiday season!

More Holiday Safety Resources

• AVMA: Holiday Pet Safety

• Pet Poison Helpline: Holiday Pet Dangers

• ASPCA: The Top 10 Pet Toxins of 2025

• ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center

Whether you just brought home a new puppy, are living with a boundary-testing teenager, or want a little extra help with your adult dog, HSSW's dog training program has a class for you! Our classes use positive, science-based methods to build skills, confidence, and a stronger bond between you and your dog. We're also welcoming a new trainer to our team and making it easier than ever to get started, with new classes beginning every couple of weeks. Enrollment for December classes is open now!

Meet Our New Trainer

Jasmine Akina, CPDT-KA, AKC CGC Evaluator

We're excited to welcome Jasmine Akina to HSSW's dog training team! Jasmine is a passionate animal advocate with a special interest in canine behavior modification. She brings a decade of professional experience spanning veterinary hospitals, rescue work, and behavior consulting.

Jasmine places a strong emphasis on relationship building, confidence building, and clear communication for dogs and their people alike. She is deeply committed to continuous learning and to spreading awareness about the profound impact of force-free dog training. She holds the Certified Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA) credential and is an AKC Canine Good Citizen Evaluator.

Less Waiting, More Training

We know that once you're ready to start training, you don't want to wait. That's why we’re now staggering the start dates of all of our classes throughout the month. No matter which class you choose, you'll never have to wait more than two weeks for the next one to begin.

Classes for Every Dog and Every Stage

It's never too early, or too late, to start training. Whether you're laying the foundation with a young puppy or working through something specific with an older dog, there's a class designed for where you and your dog are right now. Here's a look at what we offer.

Puppy Pre-School (9 to 16 weeks)

This 50-minute session focuses on early socialization, confidence building, and gentle handling during a critical window in your puppy's development. Class size is limited to eight puppies so every pup gets plenty of attention. Proof of an initial distemper/parvo vaccine is required.

Puppy Essentials (Under 6 months)

This six-week AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy class covers socialization, training, activity, and responsible ownership, with supervised puppy-to-puppy play. The first session is a people-only orientation so you can come prepared, and your pup joins for the following five weeks. It's the perfect way to give your puppy a strong start.

Teen Manners (6 to 12 months)

The teenage months can be one of the trickiest phases of dog ownership, full of energy, selective hearing, and boundary-testing. This six-week class works on focus, impulse control, and predictable behavior through pattern games, with some fun trick training mixed in. It's designed to help you and your adolescent dog get through this stage with confidence.

Basic Manners (6 months and up)

Whether your dog is a new addition or a longtime family member, this six-week class builds the everyday skills that make life together easier. You'll work on sit and stay, recall, loose-leash and heel walking, and polite greetings with people and other dogs. The first session is a people-only orientation, with dogs joining for the following five weeks.

Reactive Rover (6 months and up)

If your dog barks, lunges, or shuts down around other dogs or people, you're not alone, and it doesn't mean your dog is "bad." This six-week class helps you recognize your dog's stress signals, advocate for them in challenging situations, and practice focus exercises like touch and eye contact. Small class sizes give every dog room to work at their own pace.

Private Training

Some dogs do best without the distractions of a group class, and some goals call for a plan built just for you. Private sessions are 50 minutes long and available in person or virtually, with flexible scheduling. Your trainer will tailor each session to the specific needs of you and your dog.

All of our classes use positive reinforcement methods to shape behavior and build a strong foundation of trust between you and your dog. Group classes are held at the Swigert Family Behavior and Training Center, 10501 NE Hwy 99, Suite 27, in Vancouver. Our classes are affordably priced and open to individuals of all income levels.

Enrolling Now: December Classes

Get a head start on the new year with one of these upcoming classes:

Space in each class is limited, so we encourage you to reserve your spot early. Can't make a December date? More classes begin in early January, so the next one is never far away. Visit hssw.org/dogtraining to learn more about our program and find the right fit for your dog.

Sign Up Now

For many dogs at our shelter, the best part of the day is getting to go outside. Which isn’t surprising! We have an amazing walking path and fenced yards with dig pits, agility tunnels, play structures, treat walls, covered shelters, and more. Plus, a dedicated group of volunteers comes every day to make sure the dogs get plenty of walks and outdoor enrichment time. But the unsung heroes behind these outdoor spaces are the people who give their time, talent, and resources to keep them in great shape.

This fall, LGI Homes and their trade partners took that to a whole new level, building shelters, spreading gravel, and clearing overgrown brush, all in a single day. They're part of a growing group of businesses and community groups who rolled up their sleeves for the animals this year.

LGI Homes Builds Something Special

On October 20, a team from LGI Homes arrived ready to work, and by the end of the day the transformation was hard to miss. The crew built a new carport to protect our tractor and larger grounds equipment, along with a 10x20 shelter in the North yard so dogs can play outside no matter the weather. They also spread more than 40 yards of gravel along our dog walking paths, giving dogs and their walkers better footing through the wet winter months.

The team tackled the kinds of projects that are hard for our staff to find time for. They cut back blackberry bushes that had been creeping onto our property from the west and north sides, removed invasive shrubs, and cleared brush around the grounds. They even bagged 540 pounds of donated pet food, helping our team stay on top of incoming donations.

LGI Homes didn't stop there. They're also made a $4,000 cash gift to support the animals in our care. And in our favorite moment of the day, one of our shelter dogs, Butch, went home with a member of the LGI Homes team!

Projects this size take a lot of materials and expertise, and LGI Homes brought along some amazing partners to help make it happen. We're grateful to each of these businesses for donating their time, materials, and services:

• Warner Roofing: roofing

• Villanueva Construction: framing

• Builders FirstSource: lumber

• Lindberg Pipe and Grade: rock and sand

• C&E Rentals: discounted equipment rentals

Team Depot Digs In

Volunteers from The Home Depot's Team Depot have become familiar faces around the shelter. This year, they joined us on June 18 and October 19 for big cleanup days, clearing a large brush pile and tackling general landscaping around our outdoor dog areas. Team Depot also hosted two work parties last year, one at our Vancouver campus and one in Longview. Thank you as well to Waste Connections of Washington for helping us haul away yard debris from our outdoor dog areas.

Along with their time, The Home Depot gave a $5,000 grant for a specialty plumbing tool that will save HSSW thousands of dollars. In the past, plumbing issues meant calling in an outside plumber, with each visit costing between $800 and $1,500. Now our own team can handle those repairs in-house, which means more of every dollar can go directly to the animals.

ConMet Keeps Our Paths Clear

ConMet is a true friend of HSSW, volunteering with us twice a year and even hosting a table at this year's Unleash Your Heart Gala. On September 24, a group of 10 ConMet volunteers gave a combined 20 hours to clean up one of our existing walking paths. They also took some time to walk around and meet the animals at the shelter, and one volunteer even decided to adopt a puppy named Toph! Their hard work helps keep our trails safe and enjoyable for the dogs and volunteers who use them every day.

Eagle Scouts Build for the Dogs

Local Scouts working toward the rank of Eagle Scout also chose HSSW for their service projects this year. In February, they built a brand-new dig pit where dogs can do what comes naturally and burn off some energy. In late spring, another project added a shelter to the back Freedom Fence yard, giving dogs (and the volunteers walking them) a covered spot to enjoy time outdoors. We're so proud of these young leaders and grateful they chose to make a difference for the animals.

Stronger Together

The work these groups have done will be felt by the animals in our care for years to come. Every new outdoor shelter, cleared path, and fresh load of gravel means more time outside, more room to play, and more comfort for dogs waiting for their forever homes. Of course, these are just a few of the many businesses and community groups who support HSSW, alongside the countless volunteers and community members who show up for the animals every day. To everyone who has given their time, talents, and resources this year: thank you for helping HSSW become a better place for every pet who passes through our doors.

Get WAG and other updates delivered to your inbox!

Scroll down and enter your email, or go to hssw.org/newsletter to stay in the loop.