Halloween - Keeping Our Pets Safe

The cool air, the smell of fall, high school football, and Halloween! Just a few of my favorite things! Halloween has changed so much over the years - from the days in the '50s when I went trick or treating, to the days of the '70s when my own children did the same, to the present time when my grandchildren are celebrating Halloween. The changes in Halloween are one of the changes that have taken place over the years that I feel dispirited about. Not only must we worry about our children's safety on the night of Halloween, but also we must pay particular attention to all pets during the entire month of October. Black and white cats and/or dogs are at risk of becoming reluctant participants in the darker side of Halloween. It is suggested that during the entire month pets be watched closer than usual. Do not leave your pet home alone in your back yard. Pets have been known to be stolen during this month. Many adoption agencies refuse to make adoptions of the black and/or white cats or dogs during this time. The Los Altos Town Crier has an article from October of 1996 that explains this problem.

Of course, there are the more ordinary aspects of Halloween safety that we need to be aware of. When opening your door to trick or treaters, be very watchful of your pet. They could easily become scared and slip out of the door during the confusion of handing out candy to the little ghosts and goblins. Many people find it safer to keep their pet in a closed off room during the hours that most of the kids will be ringing the doorbell.

Another danger to your pet is Halloween candy! Dogs in particular seem to have a very strong "sweet tooth." Chocolate in particular is very dangerous to your dog. Dr. Roen's article on holidays explains about the chocolate danger. Another in-depth article on the chocolate toxicity can be found at Net.Pet home page.

Halloween & Dangers It Presents for Pets is a great article put up by Cyber-Pet.

The KidSource site has a couple of good Halloween articles: Halloween Can Be a Pretty Hairy Experience for Pets, and ASPCA Halloween Safety Tips for Pets & Pet Owners.

Halloween Safety Tips for Pets

The Detroit News has an article dated October 28, 1997, in which they talk about appropriate costumes for pets! They give lots of ideas if you are inclined to do this, but the article also talks about safety in costuming your pet.

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