December is the month that all Americans,young and old look forward too. For the young ones it’s Santa and presents, for the middle aged it’s a time to see family and for the older Americans it’s a time to reflect of Christmases past!. This year more Americans are coming together to help each other out. It has been a year of great upheaval, no more than for the animal world. Here at AGA we believe that this December can be the greatest when it comes to “Home for the Holidays” AGAs wonderful theme this month! Here are our tips and tricks for an amazing holiday month!

Giving Back

AGA donates to a specific rescue every December, but mainly this is reduced to our amazing loyal clientele. Giving back can be easy and with the help of one women we can give a new holiday blanket to every pet in a shelter. Valerie Sanks is from Long Island. She has worked years in the shelters volunteering her time to those animals that would find themselves without a home. It is no small thing to see her at any time of day with a bag of cheeseburgers with her, for her fur friends. Valerie’s best friend is a shelter dog named Buster. It’s in Buster’s name that Valerie collects blankets. She started small in 2013  just collecting a new blanket for every dog at Riverhead Shelter in Calverton NY. Then her and Buster started collecting for some near by shelters. In 2015 Buster collected enough new blankets for every single dog on Long Island! This year Valerie and Buster are trying to collect enough for every shelter in NY state. But if someone who wants to donate can not afford the blankets Valerie asks for their Khols coupons. This ingenious women collects coupons all year for the Black Friday sales and will go to every Khols in a 50 mile radius to buy blankets! Valerie also makes catnip filled toys for all the shelter cats! Many people even buy blankets from Amazon and have them shipped free with their prime account. AGA instructor Kat Marchant buys blanket for $2.50 each every time she goes shopping starting in August.

This year Val and Buster have a great start!

“Well look at this 🐾💕 Val & Buster have started to give out the gifts for all the shelter babies 💞”””- Great Big Thank You to “BLANKETS FOR BUSTER” on Long Island for these beautiful blanket donations and cat toys marked “Do Not Open Til Christmas” 🙂

Thank you so very much!!!!

Humane Society of Port Jervis/Deerpark

This year if your would like to help Buster and Val get a new blanket for every shelter pet please follow Blankets for Buster and His Friends!

You can also send Blankets or Khols Coupons to: Valerie Sanks P:O Box 262 Rocky Point N.Y 11778

Stealing From Santa!

Every year American Families with small children put treats out for old St Nick and his Reindeer. Unfortunately our furry family members think Santa is jolly enough and have no problem stealing from the Holiday Elf. Making sure a Christmas trip to the vets office is not wrapped up under your tree follow AGA tricks for keeping Santa fat with cookies and your Furry friend safe!

• -Make sure the cookies your leave out do not contain Chocolat especially if it is dark.
• -Many Sugar cookie recipes contain a harmful sweetener to pets.
• -Peanut butter cookies are the best choice is your have a thief in your midst.
• -Make sure cookies are left high enough for large pets not to reach.
• -Make sure the place your cookies will be is sturdy enough to prevent knocking over.
• -Keeping your pet kenneled or with your in your bedroom is the best way to prevent unlawful cookie eating.
• -Lastly be safe! If your know your furbaby loves cookies just leave Santa a well written thank you card!

Pine trees and pets, know the facts!

It’s the time of year where we spend time out in the cold of the winter season looking for the perfect tree to adorn their home. With all the holly and jolly many people forget that Pine trees are mildly toxic to pets. Many of us know that cats will take ornaments but dogs will also, after all Christmas tree balls look, well like balls to our furry friends! Here are some tips and facts that you may not know and education is the best tool when it comes to keeping everyone safe and in the holiday mood!

• -Christmas trees are considered to be mildly toxic. The fir tree oils can be irritating to the mouth and stomach, causing excessive drooling or vomiting.

• -The tree needles are not easily digested either; possibly causing GI irritation, vomiting, gastrointestinal obstruction or puncture.

• -If your pet has chewed on the Christmas tree monitor for any changes in behavior (excessive licking, salivating), appetite, activity, water consumption, vomiting, and diarrhea.

• -Christmas lights on the tree also pose a hazard to curious pets. Chewing on cords and lights will cause electric shocks and burns in the mouth. Check cords regularly for signs of chewing and general wear and tear.

• -Ingestion of ornaments can cause gastrointestinal blockage or rupture. Depending on what materials were used to make the ornament, toxicity may result if ingested by your pet.