All I want for Christmas is…

Posted on by alexb2448
This vintage typwriter is our featured image.

Yes, it’s old news. But it’s a story that made a lasting impression — for all of the wrong reasons.

Last December, the court of public opinion indicted a woman who reportedly spent a lot of money on a lot of Christmas presents for her children. While she defended her right to do as she pleased, critics said she was sending the wrong message.

I agree. Christmas is not about “stuff.” It’s not about what we get, or how much we get. It’s about so much more…

With that being stated, here’s a Christmas letter I hope you will enjoy.

Dear Santa —

True, I’m not a little a girl anymore. And as you know, I haven’t really been all that good. But I still felt compelled to write.

Alexandra Bogdanovic
Founder/owner of In Brief Legal Writing Services, Alexandra Bogdanovic. Photo by N. Bogdanovic

You see it’s been a crazy year. Everyone seems so angry, and they’re all fighting for no reason. To make matters even worse, it seems like the people who scream the loudest and say the nastiest things get the most attention.

The whole situation makes me really sad. So I was hoping you could help straighten things out by bringing everyone some gifts they could really use. Here are some suggestions.

This year, please bring the world the capacity for:

  1. More love and less hate
  2. More tolerance and less ignorance
  3. More peace and less war
  4. More happiness and less anger
  5. More kindness and less cruelty

I know you’re extremely busy and this is asking a lot, especially at the last minute. But we can use all the help we can get.

I know you’ll do your best, and look forward to seeing you tomorrow night. (You know I’ll be up!)

In the meantime, please give my regards to Mrs. Claus and all of the elves. Oh, and don’t forget to pat the reindeer for me!

Have a safe journey.

Love,

Alexandra

Whatever you do, don’t give your kid a pet for Christmas

Posted on by alexb2448
This vintage typwriter is our featured image.
In Brief Legal Writing Services owner Alexandra Bogdanovic's cat, Eli.
Eli under the Christmas Tree. Christmas 2013.

No matter how much little Sally begs, no matter how many times little Johnny promises to be good, and no matter how “cute” you think it would be — do everyone a favor. Please, please, please do not give your child a pet for Christmas. Or Hanukkah, or any other holiday you celebrate at this time of the year.

True, lots of dogs and cats desperately need good homes. And yes, adopting a pet is wonderful. It’s fantastic. Speaking as someone who adopted/or otherwise “rescued” all three of my cats, I highly recommend it. But not if you’re doing so for the wrong reasons.

Think about it. By definition, a domestic animal is largely dependent on people for survival. So whether you adopt a dog or cat from the local pound, or buy a pet from a breeder, you are responsible for that animal’s well-being — for the rest of its life. That means you’d better be prepared to provide that animal with food, shelter, and medical care — for the rest of its life. That also means that you’d better be prepared to meet that animal’s emotional needs — for the rest of its life.

And yes, our pets do have emotional needs. After all, they are incredibly intelligent (probably more intelligent than most people give them credit for). They are incredibly perceptive. They can express themselves — and they have phenomenal memories.

They are not just “property” as defined by American law. They are not just “things” as defined by certain humans imbued with  an overwhelming sense of their own superiority. They are not disposable.

Consequently, reputable shelters frown on “impulse adoptions,” and have policies in place to prevent them. At the shelter where I volunteer, visitors must have an appointment in order to meet the dogs available for adoption. “Drop-ins” are encouraged to visit our website to learn about the available dogs and fill out a pre-adoption application before making an appointment. Prospective adopters that make it through the initial screening process must also provide references before the final adoption goes through. Depending on the circumstances, the entire process can take several days.

Think about it. You can’t adopt a child on a whim. So why should you be able to adopt a pet on an impulse?

To learn more about why giving your child a pet for the holidays is a bad idea, click here.

It’s that time of the year

Posted on by alexb2448
This vintage typwriter is our featured image.

Yes, it’s that time of the year – again.

As a reporter I wrote more than my share of holiday stories. And believe it or not, a lot of them were about looking out for your pet.

In Brief Legal Writing Services owner Alexandra Bogdanovic's cat, Eli.
Eli under the Christmas Tree. Christmas 2013.

I wrote those stories because I thought it was important – and because I happen to love animals. After all, I’ve had cats since I was a little kid so I know how stressful and scary it can be when you’ve got to rush Rex or Mittens to the vet.

Having said that, there are a whole host of things that we take for granted at this time of year that can be hazardous or even lethal to companion animals.

Everyone knows that chocolate – or more specifically, the ingredients therein – can cause serious illness in dogs and cats. But there are other things that can make Fido or Cleo sick. Holiday decorations, plants, “people food” and even pet treats can be harmful.

The good news is that preventing unwanted emergencies is a matter of exercising a little common sense and a lot of restraint. Keep decorations and house plants out of reach. When it comes to treats of any type, keep in mind that we shouldn’t overindulge — and neither should our pets.