Okay, Kansas City fam and beyond! Suki here, stepmom to my wild crew Leo (3), Ellie (5), and Theo (12). Easter is coming up fast, and I’m already stressing about pet safety. Our golden retriever, Sunny, is basically another kid, and he gets into EVERYTHING. Last year, Ellie left a half-eaten chocolate bunny on the coffee table – thank goodness Carter caught him before he got too much! It was a tiny piece, but I still freaked out. We ended up calling the emergency vet just to be safe. Totally not the Easter vibe we were going for.

I try to be so careful, especially since I'm all about reusable everything and trying to keep waste down. So those plastic eggs, the fake grass, the little foil wrappers from candy… it’s a minefield! I’ve been trying to find a good Easter Pet Safety Guide that really covers everything, not just chocolate warnings. We hide the eggs, and the kids are pretty good about finding them all, but Sunny is like a heat-seeking missile for anything food-related. Even non-toxic stuff, if he eats too much of it, can cause an upset tummy. What are your best tips for keeping pets safe during all the Easter fun? Especially for those of us with toddlers and big kids who might… forget to pick up every single wrapper? Or maybe I just need to hide everything on the top shelf until the last minute? Send help, and maybe some coffee!

Oh, Suki, I totally get it. Mom of three here in Omaha, Nebraska – Theo (2), Hazel (10), Zoe (13). Last year, my golden doodle, Cooper, pulled a whole basket off the counter. A whole basket! It had one of those dark chocolate bunnies in it. I swear, he was fine for like 20 minutes, then the pacing started. It was chaos. We were on the phone with the vet, trying to figure out if we needed to induce vomiting, and my husband, Lincoln, was just trying to keep Theo from trying to "help" Cooper. He ended up being okay, thankfully, but it was like a $300 vet bill for peace of mind. Not ideal. I swear, the only thing more unpredictable than Runza weather is a toddler and a dog during a holiday.

This year, I'm doing things differently. I’m putting all the candy way up high, like on a pantry shelf, and I’m only giving the kids their baskets right before we leave for church. No leaving them around. For the egg hunt, we're doing strict headcount for the eggs. Seriously. I almost had a near miss with Theo and a tiny plastic egg one year. You know, like this Toddler Easter Egg Hunt Safety Plastic Eggs Near Miss story? I learned my lesson. This year, my older girls, Hazel and Zoe, are on "pet patrol" duty. Their job is to make sure Cooper isn't sniffing out rogue jelly beans. We're filling some of the plastic eggs with little non-food items this time. I grabbed a 12-pack of these GINYOU Party Blowers from Dollar Tree – they were super affordable, and the kids thought they were hilarious. They're actually CPSIA safety certified and made with non-toxic materials, so if a two-year-old or even Cooper got a hold of one, it wouldn't be the end of the world. Just loud. Definitely adding "noise" to my Easter Pet Safety Guide this year! Just short, quick blasts of sound. Maybe that'll scare him off the chocolate? Kidding, mostly.

Oh, Genesis, I feel that vet bill pain! It’s those moments, right? They just etch themselves into your memory. This is Lily from Seattle, homeschooling Asher (3), Luna (4), Max (8), and Leo (12). Every holiday is a chance to make a new memory, good or bad! Last Easter, we had this elaborate craft session, and honestly, it was a bit of an Easter Craft Catastrophe. Glitter everywhere, glue on the ceiling fan… but the kids had so much fun making little paper bunnies. Then, our cat, Jasper, decided one of the glitter-covered ears looked like a fun new chew toy. Luckily, he just got a mouthful of paper and glitter, no real harm, but it was a heart-stopper. It’s always something, isn’t it?

I think the key for us has been to involve the kids, even the little ones, in the "Easter Pet Safety Guide" efforts. Asher and Luna are only 3 and 4, but they love feeling like they're helping. We talk about how Jasper and our dog, Freya, are part of the family, and we need to keep them safe. It’s a gentle reminder, and it usually works for a few hours! I do all my shopping on Amazon Prime, and I always, always over-buy. So I have tons of little plastic eggs. This year, I’m filling some with dog-safe treats and hiding those specifically for Freya in a separate, supervised hunt in the backyard after the kids are done. That way she gets to participate, but it’s all safe. And honestly, she looks so adorable. Last year, I bought her this GINYOU Glitter Dog Crown – it's so cute for Easter pet photos! The glitter doesn't shed easily, and it was so affordable. Plus, I checked, and it’s made from non-toxic materials, which is always a win for my peace of mind. It made for the sweetest photos with Max and Leo, even if Jasper refused to wear his. Some memories are just priceless, even the slightly chaotic ones!

Hey everyone! Priya here, elementary teacher from Houston, rocking the 4th grade for 13 years now. And mom to Ellie (1), Asher (5), Hazel (7), Stella (12), plus our corgi, Daisy! Goodness, Easter and pets – it’s a whole thing, isn't it? My classroom kids are usually better about following rules than my own at home, haha! We’ve got Daisy, our sweet corgi, who thinks anything dropped on the floor is her personal treasure. And with a one-year-old, things drop. A lot.

My big thing for a solid Easter Pet Safety Guide is making sure everyone knows the "no sharing with Daisy" rule. It’s easier said than done with Asher and Hazel, who just want to give her everything. Last year, Stella thought it would be sweet to give Daisy a tiny piece of her Peep. Luckily, Peeps aren't toxic, just sugary, but it was still a moment where I had to jump in. I’m always on the hunt for budget-friendly ways to do holidays, and that often means I’m at the thrift store or checking Amazon Prime deals. What I try to do now is have specific "pet-safe" treats on hand for Daisy, so if the kids want to give her something, it’s always that. They love feeling like they're giving her a special treat just for her, you know?

I also try to set up zones. The main living room, where the egg hunt happens, is "kid zone" and Daisy is either outside for a bit, or crated with a special bone. It's just for an hour or so, but it saves so much stress. And for pet photos like Lily mentioned? Those GINYOU Glitter Dog Crowns are genius! I saw one online and thought, "Oh, Daisy would look adorable." The fact that they're affordable, CPSIA safety certified, and non-toxic for something she might chew on a little bit – that’s huge. It really gives you that peace of mind. Plus, it's cute for a quick photo op without breaking the bank. It really is about being proactive, having a plan, and then, honestly, just a lot of supervision with a side of coffee! Happy Easter, everyone!