The holidays are a joyful time, when family often comes in from out of town or neighbors and community members join together to celebrate.

While we’re all having fun, it can be a very confusing time for our pets. Imagine having your house filled with unfamiliar people surrounded by strange knickknacks and people acting out of character.

That’s the reality our pets face during the holidays. So while having a good time, it is important to keep them in mind.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has a few tips for pet owners this holiday season:

Give pets a room of their own to get away from the crowd. Many animals are shy and want their own space, or own time, to get adjusted or to just sleep the entire party away.

Don’t leave lit candles unattended, as pets may knock them over and cause a disaster or in the very least injure themselves.

Keep pets away from the table, or other areas where plates of food may be. Chocolate can be deadly for animals, so it’s important to keep that in mind during the holiday season, where sweets are often a main course.

Mistletoe and holly, if ingested by a pet, can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea.

For shoppers, dog toys that are nearly indestructible, like Kongs, are the best way to keep pets safe. Dogs that tear their toys apart can choke on swallowed pieces. The Kong toys encourage pets to try to get treats out from the inside, which allows them to work and be rewarded.

Make sure the Christmas tree won’t be tip over or fall, which could injure an unsuspecting pet or scare them. If you have a real Christmas tree, try to keep pets away from the water. Keeping the tree sturdy will help make it inaccessible.

Our furry friends provide us companionship throughout the year. Christmas and New Years can be a very confusing time for our animals, as new faces enter their lives.

There are also plenty of ways they can put themselves in danger or at the very least get into trouble.

Remember to stay mindful of your pets this holiday season. For more tips, visit the ASPCA website at https://www.aspca.org.