Welcome to December, and a big shout out for making it to the last month of the year! If your goals for 2022 include upping your social media game, get a headstart with all there is to celebrate in December - 'tis the season, after all.

December 1st is an excellent time not only to remind clients to give their pets their monthly preventatives but a great opportunity to talk about why you recommend year-round protection. Give them real-life examples of how they can still be exposed even in the winter, and help gain year-round preventative compliance for 2023!

No, you aren't seeing double - National Mutt Day is celebrated twice a year on July 31st and December 2nd! There are tons of ways to celebrate, but my favorite would be sourcing a photo of a client or staff pet that has an interesting mix and asking your clients to try to guess what breeds they are a mix of. You get bonus points if they have had a doggie DNA test you can share the results of!

National Cookie Day on December 4th could be a fun opportunity to share a pet-friendly baked treat recipe or encourage clients to share their favorite pet treat recipe with others (how fun would a pet cookie swap be?!)

December 5th is Celebrate Shelter Pets Day! Highlight adoptable pets available at your local shelter, or ask clients to share a photo of their shelter pet! With this observance so close to the holidays, if you feel so inclined, it could be a good time to talk about why pets don't make great gifts, or to use your platform to talk about the commitment you make when you adopt or purchase a pet. Remember, this post wouldn't necessarily be geared toward your loyal clients- they know all too well the commitment it takes - but rather a message they can get behind and share with others.

Here are some statistics I found that you can share:

• A shelter in Fargo, North Dakota, reports that in its area, more than 700 animals are turned over to shelters right after the holidays every year.
• An adoption group in tiny Edinburg, Texas, gets more than 400 animals. It says that the surrenders normally start with a phone call from someone saying, “I got this [animal] for Christmas…and I can’t take care of it.”
• A humane society in Reading, Pennsylvania, says that most of its post-Christmas drop-offs are puppies and kittens. They’re dumped soon after the holiday when training them requires too much time.
• By January 4 last year, one Georgia animal shelter was posting on Facebook begging for adopters because of the onslaught of returned dogs it was bombarded with.

Celebrating YOU on December 9th, the International Day of Veterinary Medicine! We use the term "human-animal bond" all the time, but do your clients know what that means? Pointing out that your passion for vet med extends so much further than loving animals is a great way to remind your clients that you care about them, too! Interview some staff and share what vet med means to them.

Who doesn't love an ugly holiday sweater? Who loves them even more when they are being worn by an adorable pet? It's Ugly Sweater Day on December 16th so make sure the staff brings in their ugliest, and you have one for the clinic cat too!

December 21st is the First Day of Winter and a good time for some seasonal safety reminders! Here are the ones not to forget:

• Shake off the winter gear for pets who don't tolerate the cold well.
• Keep your pets inside as much as possible when temps dip below freezing.
• Don't leave pets in cold cars.
• Review and know the signs of hypothermia and frostbite.
• Keep hand warmers away from curious pets.
• Keep pets away from rivers, lakes, and ponds unless you are certain they are frozen solid.
• Beware of antifreeze.
• Wipe paws to make sure they don't ingest any ice salt.
• Soothe noses and paws with a quality paw balm.
• Heat sources are cozy, but can be dangerous, so avoid unsupervised time around them.
• Bang on the hood of your car before starting it to give stray cats and other critters time to evacuate.

Winter Holidays are HERE!

Hanukkah starts on December 18th

Christmas is on December 25th

and Kwanzaa begins on December 26th!

Don't forget New Year's Eve on December 31st! Sharing your resolutions, thanking your clients for a wonderful year, and listing ideas for pet resolutions are all fantastic ideas.

December is Safe Toys & Gifts Month and while this topic usually focuses on children, it can easily be applied to our furry kids as well. Make sure your clients know that any special presents for pets should be size, age, and most importantly, species-appropriate.

December is also Cat Lovers' Month! What better time to curl up inside with a purring cat and a good book. Feature staff cats, the clinic cat if you have one, and be sure to feature lots of feline patients!

Did you know that our monthly social media package is available to purchase on a month-to-month basis with no subscription or VHA membership required? If you are just too busy this December, our package could be the relief you are looking for! Packed full of expertly crafted graphics, copy-and-paste captions, tutorials to help you make the most of the content, and even templates to customize yourself, December’s social media efforts could be a total breeze. Take your time back this month and give the package a try!

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