Halloween can be a ghostly good time. Candy, costumes, and frights in the night can be a lot of fun. Unfortunately, our pets don’t necessarily agree. For them, it can be a stressful night that causes anxiety.
Costumes are fun for people, but not necessarily for your pets. Don’t dress up your pet unless you know they enjoy it. Make sure the costume isn’t annoying or unsafe and doesn’t restrict movement, vision, hearing, or ability to breathe or bark. Avoid costumes with small or dangling accessories that the pet could chew off and possibly choke on. Make sure that costumed pets are supervised at all times. If costumes are not your pet’s favorite attire, a festive bandana can usually do the trick!
If having a soul means being able to feel love and loyalty and gratitude, then animals are better off than a lot of humans.
Halloween Pet Safety Tips
- No treats for your animals. Candy, candy wrappers and decorations should be kept out of a pet’s reach. Chocolate can be toxic, and many sugar-free candies, gum and baked products contain Xylitol or Birch Sugar, a sweetener that is toxic to dogs.
- Beware of glow sticks. Often children carry glow sticks through the darkening streets to stay safe as they trick-or-treat. When they are brought inside, pets—especially cats—find them to be a lot of fun. However, if they are punctured the liquid inside, even though labeled non-toxic, is extremely bitter.
- Pumpkins are for people, not pets. Pumpkins are considered to be relatively non-toxic, but they can produce upset stomachs. If your pumpkin is lit, keep it out of your pet’s reach.
- Give your pets a quiet, safe place on Halloween. Scary parties, constant doorbell ringing or too many strangers in your home can be stressful to your four-legged friends and even make them physically ill.
- Stay In Contact With New Owners: The great thing about fostering is that every dog is different, and you'll feel a bit differently with every dog. It's bittersweet, but knowing you've done your part to change the lives of the dog and the family adopting them.
- It’s never a good idea to take your pet trick-or-treating. Dogs may become excited and uncontrollable, and if frightened may bite. For their protection, cats should be kept indoors at all times.
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