Think of your pets this Easter long weekend

South Australian pet owners are being encouraged to take a few extra moments to ensure their furry friends stay happy and healthy this Easter weekend.

The Animal Welfare League is asking owners to ensure their pet has an up-to-date identification tag or microchip so they can be returned sooner if they do go missing.

“Over the 2013 Easter weekend, 87% of the animals we received were strays which meant a lot of families spent the long weekend searching for their beloved pets,” Jade Ellis from the AWL said.

She said owners should also remember to steer clear of treating their pets to chocolate goodies.

“Chocolate ingestion can be life threatening for dogs and other pets as it contains the compound theobromine,” Ms Ellis said.

“The higher the percentage of cocoa in the chocolate, the higher the chance of poisoning, which can potentially lead to heart failure.”

“Please make sure all chocolate treats are kept well out of reach of curious noses and if you do suspect your pet has eaten a large amount please contact your local vet immediately as the toxin can absorb very quickly.”

But if you do want to give your dog a treat, you can always give the AWL’s Easter pupcake recipe a try! .

Easter is also the perfect time to take part in ‘A Pet’s Breakfast’ where owners host a party during April to help raise money for AWL.

You can register to host an event at the Animal Welfare League website.