HOLIDAY SPIRIT GIFT GUIDE: A SPECIAL ADVERTISING SECTION
THE BERMUDA SUN
NOVEMBER 30, 2012
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■ ANIMAL WELFARE / Tips from the SPCA
Dream wheels Don’t forget your furry friends SUPPLIED BY OLEANDER CYCLES
room, put the candle out.
BY JODI CORBETT Bermuda SPCA
Wires
It’s the season of good cheer, which means parties, gifts, treats and other festivities. But as you enjoy yourselves this Christmas, make sure your pets stay safe and sound. Try to follow these safety tips and keep your pet’s eating and exercise habits as close to their normal routine as possible. Steer them clear of unhealthy treats, toxic plants and dangerous decorations.
Keep wires, batteries and glass or plastic ornaments out of a pet’s reach. A wire can deliver a potentially lethal electrical shock, while a punctured battery can cause burns to the mouth and esophagus. Shards of ornaments can damage your pet’s mouth.
House rules If your animal-loving guests would like to give your pets a little extra attention while you’re tending to the party, ask them to feel free to start a nice play or petting session.
Christmas tree Anchor your Christmas tree securely so it doesn’t tip and fall, causing possible injury to your pet. This will also prevent the tree water — which may contain fertilizers that can cause stomach upsets — from spilling. Stagnant tree water is a breeding ground for bacteria and your pet could end up with nausea or diarrhoea.
Medication Make sure all of your medications — and that of your guests — are locked behind secure doors.
Cocktails
Tinsel trouble Cats love tinsel. To them, it’s a sparkly, light-catching ‘toy’ that is easy to bat around and carry in their mouths. But a nibble can lead to a swallow, which can then lead to an obstructed digestive tract, severe vomiting, dehydration and possible surgery. It’s best to brighten your boughs with something other than tinsel.
Festive treats You know not to feed your pets chocolate and anything sweetened with xylitol, but do you know the lengths to which an enterprising pet will go to find something yummy? Make sure to keep your pets away from the table and any unattended plates of food. Also secure the lids on your garbage cans.
Toys If you’re looking to stuff your pet’s stocking choose gifts that are safe. Dogs have been known to tear their toys apart and swallow the pieces, which can then become lodged in
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GIMME: ’Hey, what about me?’ It may be tempting to give your pet scraps from the Christmas dinner, but try to avoid fatty, spicy, ‘no-no’ human foods, and of course, bones. the esophagus, stomach or intestines. Stick with chew toys that are indestructible, Kongs that can be stuffed with healthy foods, or chew treats that are designed to be safely digestible. Long, stringy things are a cat’s dream, but the most risky toys involve ribbon, yarn and loose little parts that can get stuck in the intestines. Surprise kitty with a new ball that’s too big to swallow, a stuffed catnip toy or the interactive cat dancer — and play sessions together.
Problem plants When ingested, holly can cause pets to suffer nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. Mistletoe can cause gastrointestinal upset and
cardiovascular problems. And many varieties of lilies can cause kidney failure in cats, if ingested. Opt for artificial plants made from silk or plastic, or choose a pet-safe bouquet.
Leftovers Fatty, spicy and ‘no-no’ human foods, as well as bones, should not be fed to your furry friends. Pets can join the festivities in other fun ways that won’t lead to costly medical bills.
Candles Don’t leave lighted candles unattended. Pets may burn themselves or cause a fire if they knock candles over. Be sure to use appropriate candle holders, placed on a stable surface. And if you leave the
If your celebration includes adult holiday beverages, place any unattended alcoholic drinks out of reach of pets. If ingested, your pet could become weak, ill and may even go into a coma, possibly resulting in death from respiratory failure.
A room of their own Give your pet his/her own quiet space to retreat to — complete with fresh water and a place to snuggle. Shy pups and cats might want to hide out under a piece of furniture, in their carrying case or in a separate room away from the hubbub.
New Year As you count down to New Year, keep in mind that strings of thrown confetti can get lodged in a cat’s intestines if ingested. Noisy poppers can terrify pets and cause possible damage to sensitive ears. ■
JODI CORBETT is the humane education officer for the Bermuda SPCA, 32 Valley Road, Paget. Contact 236-7333 x 205 or see www. spca.bm
Oleander Cycles is not only a rental company; we also offer sales and servicing. We have a wide variety of motorcycles, accessories and spare parts available for sale in our Hamilton, Paget and St George’s locations. If you’re looking to purchase a new motorcycle, come in and see our selection of models and colours. Our newest arrival is the PGO Buddy 125, a lovely and amazing little bike similar to the 1960’s Vespa. Pictured below, it comes in black, red, orange and seafoam green, for $3,495.
Accessories Our popular PGO T-Rex 150cc is available in black, silver and dark red. But if large wheels are a must for, then try our Soho 125cc (by Generic, KSR Group) which comes in black or white, priced $3,950. The Ligero 50cc comes in the sporty RS model, in
silver. The Ligero Classic comes in twotone colours. The TGB Hook 50cc is also popular and is available in red, priced $2,500. We also have some great accessory gift ideas, including top boxes from Italian designer Givi. They come in various sizes, from 26 litre (single helmet) to 37 Litre (two helmets) and in colours such as black, silver and pink with a floral design. We also have a great choice of helmets in
a variety of colours and styles, plus children’s sizes. Clear or tinted visors can be purchased to protect your eyes from the sun, rain or flying insects. For the safety of younger children, we offer child seats that are fitted behind the driver and secured to the motorcycle. If you want to keep your cycle looking new, try one of our bike covers to protect it from the sun and our harsh salty environment. We also have quality Abus locks from Germany for added protection against cycle theft. Our service department can handle all your repair needs, including flat tyres or licensing and insuring your cycle at TCD. If you want to spruce up your current bike, we also have a great selection of new parts to get it running and looking like new again. For bike pick-up service, call 236-2453 for assistance. We service what we sell and can assist you seven days a week, at the Paget location on Valley Road, between 8:30am and 5:30pm, 364
days a year. Stop by any of our locations to meet our friendly staff who can assist with all your cycle needs. ■
OLEANDER CYCLES, 25 Gorham Road, Hamilton, call 2950919, e-mail oleander@ logic.bm or see www. oleandercycles. bm. Other locations: Dockyard; The Reefs hotel, Southampton; 26 York Street, St George’s; and 6 Valley Road, Paget.