It’s that time of year when we all feel in a generous mood and remember that it feels so good to give to those we care about. And I can about you, my dear blog readers, for sticking with me this year through a long absence and making me feel so good about the decision to revive the Happy Wag blog.

So do I have some goodies for you.

First, I have a lovely book from prolific (and ironically named) dog author Jon Katz. “Dancing Dogs” is a collection of stories from the New York Times best-selling author, and I would love to send it to one reader.  Just post a comment about something funny your dog (or dogs) have done lately. It doesn’t have to be holiday-related but if it is, all the better.

A winner will be chosen at random next Monday.

And keep checking back the rest of this week for more book giveaways, some for dog lovers and some for kitty fans.

The Thanksgiving leftovers had barely gotten cold when I was planning to drag out the Christmas decorations.

By the way, if you know of a 12-step program that can help overcome an addiction to jolly seasonal decor, please send me the info. If you could see my living room right now, you would know I have a serious problem.

Melissa curled up between her beloved Santas.

After putting up the tree, hanging all the lights and otherwise decking all the halls, I got out the only decoration that excites Stormy, Coral and Melissa: two extra squishy Santa throw pillows.

I bought this pair of stuffed Saint Nicks half price at an after-Christmas sale at Decorator’s Warehouse five years ago. They were pretty silly looking but I like whimsical type decorations.

The first year we put them out, we noticed how much all of our dogs loved curling up with these pillows. Despite their resemblence to large stuffed toys, the dogs have never chewed them or mistreated them. They just love to rest their heads on them and we can’t resist snapping photos of them all curled up with Kris Kringle.

In the years since their holiday debut, however, these poor Santas have nearly been snuggled to death. Their beards are now dingy with dog slobber, their once rosy cheeks have faded and I will spend time tonight sewing up a little tear in one of the hats.

I told my husband this should probably be the last Christmas for these cuddly cushions since they have definitely seen their better days.

But no matter how tacky they may be and how well worn they now look, I just don’t think I have the heart to toss them in the trash when they give my pooches so much Christmas cheer.

I have no idea why I think I am smarter than my cat.

I wrote a Cornershot about how well my latest behavior modification technique was working on Thai. Every time he jumped on the dining room table, we put him in his Christmas sweater, which he HATES. The sweater seemed to inhibit his ability to make the leap to the tabletop, plus it embarrassed him to no end and he would just sulk away for a good long pout.

Sure, we sounded like the serial killer in the movie “Silence of the Lambs” (“It jumps on the table, it gets the sweater!”) but we were hoping it would get to the point that just seeing the sweater would motivate him away from the table. Psychological conditioning, you know, like the flags for the invisible fencing is often enough to keep a dog from crossing the invisible boundary.

We wanted that sweater to be his invisible fence.

Well, he’s become quite agile in the sweater now, and if even one chair is slightly pushed away from the table, he can easily make his way to the top. He’s just not a spirit that is easily broken.

So I give up. From now on, I’m just going to pretend he’s part of the table’s decor and wash the tablecloth more often.

You win this one, cat. Well, you win them all, if my score keeping is correct.

Speaking of winners, all three folks that commented on Monday’s post are winners of a prize from The Happy Wag Goody Bag. I will send each of you an email with a list and you can choose what you like from it.

Have a great weekend, readers!

Photo shamelessly stolen from Jenny Lawson and the Houston Chronicle's website. Dear Jenny: Please don't sue me. All I have to lose is a surly cat. And clearly, you already have one of those.

I’m tied up in knots today, dear readers, so here’s a link to another blog with an amusing holiday kitty tale from my Twitter friend, Jenny the Bloggess.

(Those of you who are familiar with Jenny’s work in other forums should know this one is posted on the Houston Chronicle’s website, so it’s totally safe for work.)

I’ll be back tomorrow with a winner from yesterday’s comments.

Enjoy!

My husband and I had about a bazillion things to do this weekend, including all of our Christmas shopping for our friends and family and a couple of dinners with friends and family, and I needed to bake a dozen dozen cookies  (calling it a gross of cookies just seems unappetizing) for various holiday functions this week.

And yet, we carved out a couple of hours to take all four pets– yeah, all four– to PetSmart to get their photos taken with Santa. This was the last weekend that Star City Greyhound Adoptions was running the Santa show at the Valley View retailer, so we didn’t want to miss out.

Let’s just say everyone made it back alive.

I stuffed Thai into his Christmas sweater and Santa hat and he was ready to roll. See how happy he was just before I tucked him into his carrier?

No, really, that’s his happy face. Really.

We piled our pack of pooches in the SUV, I held Thai in his carrier in my lap and off we went. In the process of unloading in the parking lot, we dropped all three leashes at least once (recovered quickly!) I slung the cat over my shoulder like a travel bag and we all marched into the store. Stormy was SO EXCITED being at PetSmart that his feet were moving faster than a greyhound at the racetrack.  He could not get traction on the slick retail floor, so all four feet went out from under him– he ended up swimming his way to the back of the store where St. Nick was waiting.

You’re welcome, PetSmart, for the free mopping my dog’s belly gave your floor.

Once we arrived, however, Stormy decided he DID NOT LIKE Santa. No amount of coaxing was getting him anywhere near the Jolly Old Elf. I will scan the photos and post them later this week, but Stormy’s is taken about three feet from the dude in the red suit.

After everyone’s photo was taken, paid for (all proceeds go to the rescue group) and everyone was loaded back into the SUV, my husband and I decided we needed a celebratory drink and drove to the Starbucks’ drive-thru. After being disappointed that a shot of rum wasn’t an option for our lattes, we pulled to the window, looked at each other and smiled. We did it! Success! No one died and we got great photos! We both leaned in for a kiss.

That’s when Melissa stuck her head in between us and we both ended up giving her a nice peck in each cheek.

Best Santa photo trip EVER.

Post a comment with a fun story about your pets at the holidays. Random commenter will be chosen on Wednesday for a prize.

As much as we love to have family come to visit us for the holidays, it can be stressful for everyone.

I am sure it takes a toll on my elderly in-laws to make the trek from Indiana to Virginia each year, and it certainly keeps my husband and I on our toes to keep maintain the peace between the two-legged visitors and the four-legged residents.

It complicates things  that my in-laws are not crazy about dogs and my mother-in-law despises cats.

But the grand-dogs seemed to do OK with their grand-pet-parents. Our greyhounds Coral and Melissa, even snuggled with my mother-in-law on the couch a couple of times.

Yet both of my in-laws remain wary of Stormy, our pit bull mutt, despite his friendly, well-mannered behavior every time they have ever visited us.

Even among family, stereotypes are hard to overcome.

The critter that seems most out of sorts about the whole visit is Thai, who has not been eating well and has been extra needy of my attention while our house was full of holiday dysfunction yuletide bliss.

For us, the holidays are really over now. We are not New Year’s party-goers.  Our goal is to have a quiet weekend at home with our pets. No big dinners, no guests, just a blissful state of normal.

How do your pets react to the chaos of the holiday season?

How magical was it to have fresh snow falling on Christmas Day? The view from my house was like a holiday card, a gorgeous winter wonderland scene.

This is a photo of the Christmas tree on our deck.

Yes, we have a tree on our deck because I’m kind of a freak. But look! It’s pretty, right?

So like most people, we gleefully ripped open our presents on Christmas morning, and that includes the critters at our house.

The dogs got a box full of stuffless stuffies and a few other chew toys.

The cat? He got his favorite vitamin supplement sprinkled on his food. That may not sound like much to you but he was very excited.

Best of all, all the beasts were well-behaved and no visiting relatives were trampled by our pack doing its best impression of the Bumpus hounds from the movie “A Christmas Story.”

How was your Christmas holiday?

The Happy Wag is on holiday break until Monday.

Merry Christmas to each one of you. I hope that Santa Claus is kind to you and that your critters wake up to new toys and an abundance of cat nip in their stockings.

Have a safe and happy holiday, everyone.

If your house will not be erupting in too much chaos this holiday season, perhaps you could provide a respite for a shelter pet.

The Roanoke Valley SPCA is participating in the Petfinder.com national “Foster a Lonely Pet for the Holidays” pet fostering program.  Across the country, over 13,000 pet rescue organizations are trying to empty their kennels for Christmas, encouraging folks to invite a pet home for the holidays.

I would do this in a heartbeat if we weren’t hosting a houseful of relatives.  I am cringing at the thought of my mother-in-law, who is not a big fan of the most quiet and gentle dogs, meeting Melissa Moo, the dog whose personality is way too big for her slender body.

Come to think of it, if anyone would like to foster a crazed cute greyhound for Christmas, call me.

But I digress.

Here’s the details on the program.

Ann Marie Sweeney, the foster coordinator for the RVSPCA, will answer questions about the program for people interested in making this Christmas a happy holiday for a pet in need. You can contact her at 339-9505 or asweeney@rvspca.org.
Applications will be taken until Wednesday; the goal is have all the fostered pets picked up by noon on Thursday.

Fostered pets need to be returned to the RVSPCA between Dec. 30 and Jan. 2.

The RVSPCA will provide all needed supplies and support to the temporary families. View the adoptable the pets online at www.rvspca.org, or visit the shelter to meet the pets.

Adopt a pet from now until Dec. 22 from Angels of Assisi, and Santa will deliver your new companion to your home.

The adoption price (plus $10 for the sleigh ride) will bring the newly adopted pet, adorned in a festive holiday bow, to your door (not down the chimney) on Christmas Eve between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

If you like, Santa will also talk to children about caring for their new pet.

The delivery location for each pet must be within a 20-mile radius of Angels of Assisi, located in downtown Roanoke.  An employee of Angels of Assisi will contact the adopter on Thursday, December 23 to confirm an approximate delivery time.  Potential adopters still need to fill out the required adoption application and go through the approval process after the new pet is chosen.

As great as it to have Santa bring your new critter to your home,keep in mind that adding a new pet to your home for the holiday may not be a great idea if you anticipate a lot of company or excess activity.