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W e d n e s d ay, d e c e m b e r 18, 2024
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Unwrapping holiday stress
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The holiday season and all its trappings may upend pets’ routines, and that causes stress.
Fido and Fluffy may feel it, just like you do. Here’s how to help. With just days to go until Christmas, holiday stress is piling up. The traffic is terrifible, the clock is ticking on last-minute gifts, and it can be hard to juggle the everyday obligations of work and family with the added demands of the season. All this holiday hustle and bustle can affect the pets, too. Traci Our pets know when we are anxHowerton ious, and this may cause them to ANIMAL become stressed. RESCUE Dogs and cats are creatures of habit. Keeping their routines as normal as possible this time of the year can help alleviate anxiety.
Touchy situations Pets may become on edge when the decorations go up and the house gets rearranged or filled with gifts. For those who travel for the holidays, the suitcases being packed will signal that something outside of the normal. The biggest cause of anxiety for pets during the holidays, however, is when there is more activity in the home, especially having more visitors than usual. I don’t blame them. This makes me anxious, too! To help reduce some of this holiday stress — at least for the pets — create a safe and quiet space for them to retreat to when visitors come over.
STAFF PHOTOS BY DAVID GRUNFELD
CHRISTMAS ROLLS IN The Children’s Hospital New Orleans holiday parade included 30 holiday-themed floats with animatronic props, lighting systems, special effects and audio systems. There were also highflying helium balloons and dozens of New Orleans’ marching groups. And Santa was there, too! ä More photos. PAGE 10G
Stranger danger Dogs can become anxious and nervous with strangers in their homes. If a pet is not used to kids and you have guests with small children, a dog may become uncomfortable. (Cats usually know when it’s time to escape the crowds and will depart to a quiet space on their own.) Keeping the pets away from the party also lessens the opportunity for the dog or cat to consume something that could be harmful. Guests may not have pets and, therefore, may not know the unsafe table foods. The last thing we want to do is take a trip to the emergency vet during the holidays. This is also the season for an increase in the number of lost pets. Doors are opening constantly; people are coming in and out; and pets may try to escape. This can happen just because a pet wanders out an opened door, or because they are stressed and in flight mode, causing them to want to get out of an uncomfortable situation. And, with all the activity and distractions, there may be a delay before we realize Fluffy is missing.
What to do Taking the right precautions and keeping routines as normal as possible will help reduce pet stress this holiday season. The rest of us are on our own! One way to reduce human holiday stress is to volunteer at an animal shelter and spend time with furry friends. Please consider giving a few hours of your time. Volunteers are hard to come by right now due to travel, holiday festivities,
ä See PETS, page 2G
Nine don’t-miss holiday events Dec. 25 (it’s both Christmas Day and the beginning of Hanukkah) is just a week away, and celebrations and special events are happening at full speed. Get out and do something special now if you don’t want to be a Scrooge. A more full list of holiday events is on Page 2G.
1. CELEBRATION IN THE OAKS: The holiday lights festival has driving and walking tours through Jan. 3, starting weeknights at 6 p.m. and Friday and Saturday nights at 5 p.m. Dasher Passes allow those on driving tours to skip the line, and combined rates for walking and driving tours are available. Driving tours start at $7 for bikes and $20 for cars.Walking tours start at $20. CelebrationInTheOaks.com. 2. KENNER CHRISTMAS VILLAGE: Heritage Park will be lit for the holiday nightly through Dec. 31, 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.Visitors to the park, 2015 Fourth St. in Kenner, can view the festival displays and shop local vendors on weekends; children can play in the sudsy “snow” that will blanket the
Antoine Alley in New Orleans. On Dec. 18, Yusa & Mahmoud Chouki 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.; Dec. 22, the Cathedral Choir, 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. fqfi.org/holidays. 4. CHRISTMAS IN LAFRENIERE PARK: The light display continues through Dec. 30 at the park, 3000 Downs Blvd. in Metairie. Displays include a lighted 60-foot sea serpent in the lagoon. Snow Day is Dec. 14. Admission per vehicle is $10 in advance or $15 at the gate; credit and debit cards only. STAFF PHOTO BY SOPHIA GERMER Check out Hanukkah Wonderland on Dec. Hours are Sunday to Thursday, 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 5:30 p.m. to 22 in Metairie. It’s a day of activities for 10 p.m. lafrenierepark.org. kids and families. 5. HANUKKAH CELEBRATION: The event will park.A holiday-themed musical laser light take place Dec. 19, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., show plays in the Kenner Planetarium & at the New Orleans Jewish Community Megadome Cinema across the street on Center, 5342 St. Charles Ave. It will feature Thursdays, Dec. 7, 14, 21 and 28 at 7 p.m. The Hebrew Hammers, a local brass/funk www.visitjeffersonparish.com. band playing. Free; reservations required 3. CATHEDRAL CONCERTS: French Quarter through Eventbrite. www.nojcc.org. Festivals Inc. will host a series of free holiday ä See EVENTS, page 2G concerts at St. Louis Cathedral, 615 Pere
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