My Pet World: Good reasons to restrain your dog (and your Christmas tree)

By Cathy M. Rosenthal, Tribune Content Agency on Nov 28, 2018

Thank you for fostering abused and neglected animals. Walking dogs off leash, however, may be easier for you, but it often scares other pet owners. Leash laws are real, and you don't know enough about the personalities of these foster dogs in the little time that you have cared for them to know if they will listen to you or behave around other people and animals.

You do have choices when it comes to collars. Please try the Haltie or Gentle Leader head collars on your foster dogs. They work almost like a horse halter wrapping around the face and snout, so you have better control of the dog, and they will immediately stop pulling. I promise you will love these head collars as a training device, and your neighbors and other dog walkers will appreciate your thoughtfulness in keeping these rescue dogs leashed.

Dear Cathy,

I read your column, and I enjoy it very much. You asked for stories about keeping a Christmas tree upright when animals are present. Here's mine.

I am a retired art teacher, but many years ago I also had some private students. One of my students was extremely talented, so I got permission to take her on a field trip to a local art gallery owned by a friend of mine. When I arrived at her home, her stepmom invited me in. Theirs was a blended family with each parent having three children. I noticed that the Christmas tree had a chain wrapped around the trunk and firmly attached to a large eye-bolt that screwed into the wall. I asked, "What's up with the chain and eye-bolt?" She replied, "Six kids, five dogs, three cats, what do you think?"

Thanks for writing such an informative column. -- Nancy, Gurnee, IL

Dear Nancy,

Your letter made me laugh as I imagined the mayhem in that household. Both kids and pets can knock over the Christmas tree, so I love the family's industrial strategy for keeping their tree upright. An unbreakable chain hooked to the wall seems about right for their family of 15. Thanks for sharing.

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(Cathy M. Rosenthal is a longtime animal advocate, author, columnist and pet expert who has more than 25 years in the animal welfare field. Send your pet questions, stories and tips to cathy@petpundit.com. Please include your name, city, and state. You can follow her @cathymrosenthal.)