Good eating this Thanksgiving provided for local animals at Warner Robins Animal Control

Staff of Warner Robins Animal Control and volunteers worked together this holiday week to provide a Thanksgiving dinner on Tuesday for the animals housed at the facility.

The animal control supervisor — Greg Langston — said the workers and volunteers are excited to provide the meals for the animals this holiday and possibly future ones.

“This is the first time we’ve done it — and hopefully, we can do it again around Christmas time or something like that,” Langston said.

The facility’s dogs were fed turkey, sweet potato casserole, green beans and pumpkin pies, while the cats ate tuna casserole.

“They loved it!” one volunteer said. “They even put their plates out when they were done.”

Langston said he and other staff consulted with local veterinarians to plan safe meals for the animals.

“Turkey meat is OK — just don’t feed them the fat,” he said. “As long as you don’t feed them the fat, it’s fine and dandy.”

White meat is fine for them along with sweet potatoes and green beans, but make sure to avoid sweets like chocolate, Langston added.

According to the online article, “Safe Thanksgiving Food To Share With Your Dog or Avoid” from the American Kennel Club (AKC), the holiday season “tends to coincide with an uptick in vet visits, due to dogs being fed unsafe human foods.”

Regarding turkey, pet owners should avoid feeding seasoned turkey along with the skin, bones or gravy, the article stated.

The AKC article goes on to mention sweet potatoes and green beans are a great source of fiber and vitamins for your pet — and pumpkin helps with digestion and your friend’s skin and coat, as long as none of the foods contain added ingredients.

Avoid slipping your pet any alcohol, stuffing, mashed potatoes or creamed peas, according to the article.

If your pet shows signs of lethargy, diarrhea or if you’re afraid your pet consumed something they shouldn’t have, call the 24/7 Pet Poison Helpline at (855) 764-7661. Also, consider consulting with your local veterinarian to see if they provide any after-hours or weekend care during the holidays.

According to experts, staying wary of what’s thrown in an easily accessible trash can, watching out for “counter-surfing” and learning the Heimlich maneuver could save your furry friend or even a fellow friend or family member this holiday season if choking occurs.

Readers can locate information online regarding the Heimlich maneuver for pets at petmd.com by searching for the articles: “Choking and the Heimlich Maneuver in Cats” and “How to Perform the Heimlich Maneuver for Dogs if Your Dog is Choking.”

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