Dora, a pup from Frisco, TX ran away from her home on July 4 after getting frightened by fireworks. For months, her family looked for her, leaving no stone unturned. Seven months later, CCAA scanned the microchip of a stray dog found in McKinney, TX — it was Dora. She was soon reunited with her family.  

Pets may not realize that for us humans, this is a special time of year. We host parties, go out more often, and keep extra goodies around the house. But while we are enjoying the festivities, our pets might be unhappy or end up sick from eating something they shouldn’t.

As beautiful as poinsettas are, some cats find them irristable. Though they are not extremely "poisonous", as most people think, they can cause drooling and sometimes mild vomiting and diarrhea. Mistletoe and holly are actually more toxic. If eaten in large amounts, severe vomiting, diarrhea, difficulty breathing, heart problems, strange behavior and loss of appetite can result. My own cats love to chew on any plant they can, so I keep all plants in a room they are not allowed in or store them out of reach. If you know your pet has ingested any of these plants and is showing symptoms medical help will be needed.