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One of my friends just called me - she set up a barrier around her Christmas tree, so that the rabbits couldn't get at the gifts, the tree, or the wires. But they looked so sad at being denied their fun, that she went and got some wrapping paper and put it around an empty cardboard box, and put it in the middle of the floor, so that her bunnies could still have fun. There are many ways besides this to share the holidays safely with your pet. By now you've heard all the warnings - keep them from swallowing tinsel, don't let them chew on light cords, etc. - but there is fun in the holidays as well as caution.

For example, the holidays usually involve lots of food. Now, you know you can't give your pets chocolate, or alcohol. But look at all those cranberries! They are high in vitamin C, for guinea pigs and chinchillas, and many rabbits like them also. Don't forget to freeze a few, also, for use in the summer- a frozen cranberry is a hot-weather treat many small pets love. Sweet potatoes are another veggie that's safe for most small pets - rabbits, guinea pigs, small rodents of all sorts - and full of vitamins. We slice it about half an inch thick, then cut that into squares, and give everyone little pieces. Don't forget your birds, if you have them - a cockatiel or parrot will enjoy some sweet potato. As you're slicing up veggies for that holiday party vegetable platter, share the red bell peppers and the carrots with the pets, and broccoli too.

Want to let your pet play with some of the paper stuff? Look in eco-stores, health food stores, etc. for "natural" style Christmas wrapping paper, made with non-toxic dyes - it will be safe to let your pets rip, chew and shred at that for a little while. Hedgehogs will also enjoy burrowing under crumpled up paper, and dragging around ribbons (unlike the rodents and lagomorphs, the hedgies won't try to eat the ribbons). Save the cardboard boxes that your mail-order or internet-order gifts came in; everyone from rats to cats will enjoy playing with a plain cardboard box.

You don't want your pet chewing on Christmas ornaments, but plain plastic round ornaments are safe for them to bat around (remove the metal cap, if there is one) - a white plastic bulb with sparkly stripes on it will provide lots of amusement for a cat. Those clear plastic ornaments sold in crafts stores are great too - they are made to put your own decorations on AND IN so you can fill them with a few dried beans or a few of those ubiquitous jingle bells, for cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, or rats to bat at and push around, making noise.

Share the Christmas music with your pets, too. Both guinea pigs and birds seem to enjoy music; make sure they can hear some of the many holiday CDs you'll be playing, or leave a radio tuned to a holiday program for them while you're at work during the day.

The holidays are also the season to take great pictures of your pets. See if your local pet store is having a "pictures with Santa" special - many of them are benefits for local shelters and rescue groups, so that the money you pay goes to a good cause. The pictures you take this year can be your holiday cards next year. Check crafts stores for Santa hats made for dolls, which may fit your ferret, guinea pig, or rabbit. (Most will only put up with such costumes for a short time, so snap those pictures fast!) Check your local photo developers, too, to see if they make photo calendars - wouldn't you love to have Squeaky, Thumper, and Rags' pictures on your office wall year round? This is the time of year to get that done.

Last but not least, don't forget to share your family quality time with your pets. If your holiday traditions include cracking nuts, and peeling tangerines, share a tangerine slice with a guinea pig or a filbert with a rat. When you're gathered around the VCR watching that video of Miracle on 34th Street for the twentieth time, let the pets join you. As you make popcorn, leave some of it unsalted and unbuttered, so it's safe to give your rabbit, guinea pig, or rodent a piece.

Come New Year's eve, your pets will be less frightened of fireworks going off, and noisemakers everywhere, if they are with you. Have them join the family to watch the Times Square countdown, rather than leaving them alone. And on Epiphany, or Twelfth Night, remember the myth that the animals can speak on that night. Be sure to give them a special treat, so that they'll say nice things about you!