Sally Spaniel's 7 TIPS for saving your Fluffy or Fido from holiday disasters like those shown here

1 Secure that tree! Take it from one who's knocked down lots of Christmas trees--a frisky animal and a wobbly Christmas tree can spell disaster. Think about keeping your pet out of the tree room. At least make sure the tree is fastened snug in its stand. Better yet, tie the tree to hooks in the wall or ceiling with string or wire.

Some other tree tips:

Keep temptation away--don't leave tinsel, stray ribbons, or string within easy reach. If your pet swallows these, they can make it sick-- or even kill it. Keep electric lights and other dangling delights out of the way too.

Water in tree stands is another no-no for us pets. It may have prickly pine needles in it that can get caught in our throats--or stuff that can make us sick. So please try to keep your tree stand covered tightly.

2 Watch the candles! Once I got a little too close to a lit candle-- yeowch! And I knocked it over and nearly set the house on fire. So here's my advice to you humans: When using lit candles, keep lively pets in another room.

3 Party without pets. Planning a party over the holidays? Pets, especially dogs, can get overexcited or nervous around strangers. So, if your pooch or kitty isn't a party animal, put it in a quiet room away from your guests.

4 Just say "no." I've snagged my share of holiday snacks when nobody was looking. Often they made me sick as a dog. (Get it?) So don't leave leftovers or other tempting items around, even if they're wrapped or sealed. You especially need to remove chocolate goodies--many are poisonous to us dogs.

5 Pick perfect pet presents. I sure love getting holiday gifts. And your pet deserves some too. But just make sure they're safe. That means avoid things with small parts that your pet could choke on if it tries to eat them. Stay away from hard plastic dog bones--these can splinter. Instead, give nylon bones or "digestible" chew bones made of vegetable or animal products.

6 Don't give pets. Many people love the idea of getting a cute puppy or kitten during the holidays. But this is the worst possible time to give a pet. Why? New puppies and kittens need a quiet home. Noise and confusion scare them. Yet most households are far from quiet right now. Puppies also need lots of attention and training. Who has time for this over the holidays? So please wait for a quieter time to give a pet to someone.

7 Deck the halls--carefully! Many holiday plants and cut evergreens can harm us pets if we munch on them. So try to keep these out of your pet's reach.

My Final Word If you think your pet may have eaten something harmful, call your vet immediately. And remember, if you follow all my tips, you and your pets should have a great holiday!