Mother’s Day spending is expected to exceed $30 billion, according to an annual survey conducted by the National Retail Federation. Aside from greeting cards, flowers top Mother’s Day purchases, followed by special outings (i.e. brunch), jewelry, gift cards and electronics.
It’s usually okay to embrace an “it’s the thought that counts” attitude but, since not all flowers are safe for pets, it’s important to be especially mindful when gifting floral arrangements on Mother’s Day to those who have a service dog, companion animal or a pet in general.
Here are a dozen pet-safe flowers (listed in alphabetical order) to include in Mother’s Day floral bouquets, according to the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center.
- Freesias
- Gerber Daisies
- Limonium
- Lisianthus
- Madagascar Jasmine
- Orchids
- Roses
- Snapdragons
- Statice
- Stock
- Sunflowers
- Waxflower
The ASPCA cautions that while these plants are considered to be pet-safe, ingestion of anything outside of a pet’s normal diet (including flowers) may cause mild stomach upset. Keep floral bouquets out of your pet’s reach. For a detailed list of toxic and non-toxic plants, please review this list. If your animal ingests a toxic plant or harmful substance, contact your veterinarian and the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
Note: With the number of COVID-19 cases down, many are amping up celebrations (including Mother’s Day) to make up for missed opportunities during pandemic lockdown. But, because people with certain disabilities, chronic conditions and compromised immune systems remain at greater risk of severe COVID illness or death, do keep health safety a priority.
Looking for similar content? Check out these articles:
- How to Exercise Your Service Dog Indoors During Inclement Weather
- 10 Summer Safety Tips for Service Dogs and Working Dogs
- How to Make Budget-Friendly Frozen Dog Treats for Your Service Animal
(AmeriDisability originally published this article on April 21, 2022.)
