Thanksgiving is a risky time for curious pets, and several common holiday ingredients are on the ASPCA's list of foods to avoid.

Onions, garlic, grapes, raisins, chocolate, xylitol, yeast dough and alcohol can all cause real harm.

Tell guests the rules, secure the trash and keep bags off the floor.

If your pet eats something dangerous, call your vet or ASPCA Poison Control at (888) 426-4435, which says it is open 24/7.

Fostering is one of the most direct ways to help a shelter animal without adopting for life, and LA County Animal Care and Control publishes exactly what it asks of volunteers.

The biggest needs are large dogs and unweaned kittens, and fosters must live within 25 miles of their care center.

The county provides food and supplies, but it will not reimburse medical care that was not pre-approved.

Commitments should not exceed three months, so think through your schedule before you apply.

Some animals arrive with problems most shelters can't take on, from birth defects to disabilities and long-term medical needs.

For many of them, Josh and His Critters is where the story changes.

Founder Tina Marie Lythgoe runs the nonprofit rescue, rehabilitation center and sanctuary on a simple belief: everything with a heartbeat deserves a chance.

The rescue is named for Josh, a newborn Westie mix with a cleft palate who was expected to be euthanized until Tina said yes and bottle-fed him to health.

Today the sanctuary cares for dogs, cats, goats, pigs, rabbits, birds and more, and other shelters call when they're out of options.

It runs on community support, and AV residents can help with donations, follows and shares.

Fall brings big changes for backyard chickens and goats across the Antelope Valley.

Shorter days slow egg laying, and the yearly molt can leave hens looking ragged while they regrow feathers, which is normal and helped by higher-protein feed.

Coops should be dry, draft-free and well ventilated, with roofs secured against high desert wind and waterers kept from freezing.

Predators get bolder as food thins out, so lock birds in at dusk and use hardware cloth.

Goats need a three-sided windbreak shelter, dry bedding, plenty of hay, unfrozen water and regular hands-on body checks.

In a region as spread out as the Antelope Valley, owners should know where to go before a pet emergency hits.

Start with your regular vet, whose after-hours message often points the way.

AV Veterinary Center in Lancaster handles urgent cases for dogs and cats during open hours, including weekend walk-ins, while VEG Santa Clarita in Stevenson Ranch is open 24/7 and treats exotics too.

Horses depend on an equine vet's on-call line, so becoming an established client now and keeping a trailer ready are key.

Poison control lines run around the clock, and calling ahead before you drive is always the smart move.

Cooler weather in the Antelope Valley brings a seasonal rise in horse colic, especially impaction colic tied to low water intake.

Cold nights can make horses drink less, so heated water, daily trough checks and free-choice salt help keep them hydrated.

Owners should switch to new hay gradually over about two weeks, feed off the sandy ground, and keep exercise and parasite control consistent.

Pawing, rolling, sweating, fewer manure piles and loss of appetite are warning signs that need a call to the vet right away.

Having an after-hours vet number and a road-ready trailer ready before an emergency can make all the difference.

Antelope Valley nights can drop below freezing even after mild afternoons, and the region's wind makes the cold harder on pets.

The safest move is to bring pets inside when temperatures fall, especially small, young, senior or ill animals.

Outdoor dogs need a dry, insulated shelter off the ground with straw bedding and unfrozen water.

Antifreeze is a serious threat, since a small amount can be deadly, so clean spills and get to a vet immediately if a pet may have swallowed some.

Owners should also check under car hoods for cats, keep pets away from heaters, inspect fences after windstorms and watch for signs of hypothermia.

A dry cough that won't quit could point to Valley Fever, a fungal illness that comes from spores in desert soil.

The Antelope Valley is one of LA County's hot spots, and dogs that dig and sniff in the dirt are especially exposed.

Many dogs never get sick, but others develop a cough, fever, low energy or weight loss, and serious cases can spread to the bones and joints.

A blood test can confirm it, and most dogs recover with months of antifungal medication.

It isn't contagious, but limiting dust exposure on windy days is the best prevention for pets and horses alike.

Living in the Antelope Valley means sharing space with coyotes, bobcats, hawks, owls, snakes, and other wildlife. This article explains how local pet owners, ranch families, and backyard animal keepers can reduce risk without panic. Key safety steps include removing attractants like pet food and unsecured trash, checking fences and gates, securing chicken coops and rabbit hutches, supervising small dogs, keeping cats indoors or protected, and paying attention to signs of predator activity around the property. With layered protection and regular checks, AV residents can help keep domestic animals safer while respecting the wildlife that naturally lives here.