When giving Christmas gifts,
don't forget pets

Humane shelters all over the country need volunteer help. However, we often hear, "I want to help, but I can't bear to see the animals there." OK, here's your chance to show you really mean it.

There are lots of jobs humane societies do that don't happen at the shelter. Fund-raisers occur in all kinds of locations. At The Humane Society of South Mississippi, for example, Pet Photos with Santa is coming up. Want to volunteer to be Santa? Want to help sign up pet owners and their pets? Want to work at the next yard sale, silent auction, banquet or other function? Want to go to schools and help educate young people on pet care, spay/neuter issues and pet overpopulation? Simply call Robin at (228) 863-2489 or 863-3354, or your local shelter's representative.

Maybe your vision of animal welfare is more exotic. Needs exist for wild animals, also, from aardvarks to zebras. Wildlife Rehabilitation and Nature Preservation can use your help in some of the same capacities. If you like birds better than mammals, work with those.

Can't work with the animals but want to do your part? Needs range from school educational trips to plumbing and air conditioning. Come on, you can do it.

For your own pet, there's no investment like prevention. Prevention in the form of annual vaccinations to prevent infectious disease, physical examinations for early detection of cancers and metabolic disease, heartworm prevention and fecal examination for parasites. Suppose, though, that you can't afford to get all that prevention at one time. There are several options.

A piggybank is one. And, you don't have to waste health-care dollars going out and buying a ceramic pig, just (carefully) punch a hole in a lid of a fruit jar so you can drop your spare change at the end of every day.

Routine prevention for dogs costs about $100 a year, a little less for cats. In addition, be sure to save some for "rainy days," when unexpected illnesses hit, and you need care fast.

Another way of saving for routine care and emergencies is through insurance. Veterinary Pet Insurance's Vaccination and Routine Care Coverage helps pay for regular care, and can be added to any of their medical plans.

The plan has no deductible (though charges above the coverage amounts will be the responsibility of the pet owner). The cost is $8.25 monthly or $99.00 per year. You can contact VPI at (800) USA-PETS (800-872-7387) or www.petinsurance.com.

It is more blessed to give than to receive. Animals depend on us for giving all year long. They are big responsibilities, and they deserve our help.