4 ways to include your pets in Christmas fun

Holidays can get hectic with family plans, vacations and other commitments to honour. Sadly, pets often get left out of the picture even though many people consider them to be family. Here are four fun ways to include your pets in your Christmas activities.

If you're going away for a long trip, think about booking a hotel or house that is pet-friendly. That way, you needn't leave your pets at home with a sitter or board them over the holidays.

• If you're flying, many airlines allow you to bring pets for an extra fee, which probably won't be more than the cost of boarding them for a week or longer.
• If you're renting a car, check with the rental car company to see what their pet policies allow, and what liabilities you risk if your pet makes a mess.

If you send out Christmas photos or cards, be sure to include your pets in the portrait.

• You can hold your dog or cat in your lap while the photographer snaps the shot so they can be part of your family Christmas.
• You could always use the photo in a keepsake tree ornament, featuring you along with your pet at home.

There are plenty of holiday-themed sweaters, collars, tags and other accessories available for your pets to wear. Give them a little splash of colour by dressing your dog in a Christmas sweater or a cat in a bright red collar with bells.

• If you want, you could even make your own addition to their collar by adding red and green ribbons.
• You could also go all out and buy one of the holiday-themed pet costumes for sale at your local pet shop.

Get each of your pets a stocking and stuff it with trinkets and snacks they like.

• You could also wrap up a gift or two and put them under the tree for a family member to open for the pet in the morning.

Your pets will be excited to be included in the family plans. Plus, they'll enjoy the extra treats, just like the rest of the family!

Remember that pets are part of the family, too. Including them in such things as pictures and gift-giving makes the whole family happy and can create some great new traditions for years to come.