Keep your felines indoors during this Halloween season
The season of ghosts and goblins has arrived. This is a fun time for those of us with small children that are still willing to dress in costume. It is also fun for those of us who like to decorate our houses seasonally.
Unfortunately, it is also a time of terror for our feline friends, especially the black ones.
Halloween seems to be the time when some youngsters and teens (without good adult role models to follow) let their frustrations out on felines and abuse them. Please consider this as an appeal to anyone who is a caretaker of an outside-inside feline to keep it indoors.
The Buddy Foundation has a strict policy of requiring our felines to be inside only. Even if you do not agree with our safety policy for felines, please have the common sense to keep your animal inside this trick-or-treat season.
Imagine the horror you would feel if your feline did not come home for several days, came home injured or never came home again. Imagine the waiting, the worry, the not knowing what occurred and the what ifs.
You also need to be made keenly aware that dangers lurk daily for our felines from obvious accidents and from people that just do not respect animal life the way we do.
Do not give pranksters the opportunity to harm a beloved pet. If you have been feeding a black feline all summer and have been contemplating the idea of providing a permanent home, the time to act is now. Just bring the cat inside and save a life.
Even if you are not caring for an outside feline, keep one out of harm's way if you encounter one. Offer your home as a safe haven. You will be saving one more feline from torment.
Now that outside felines are safe, we can focus closer to home for the safety of our inside felines this Halloween season.
The most obvious dangers are indoor decorations. Perhaps you should consider skipping them. Our feline friends seem to be able to reach the decorations regardless of where we place them due to their skillful, agile jumping ability.
Anyone with a feline should avoid decorative strands of lights, spider weblike cotton and any twine-like material. These are just a few of the items that will pique our felines' interests and will most certainly cause you to make an emergency trip to the animal hospital.
Candy left unmonitored is another culprit by its very nature, plus the additional threat the wrapper or packaging can cause. Our felines will always find what fascinates them. Candy and treats should be kept in a cabinet that closes securely until the tricksters arrive. If there is a lull in traffic at the door, secure the candy away again.
Candy left on the counter or by a door that is opening and closing is an invitation to ingest a deadly treat.
Lastly, an unusual amount of noise, foot traffic and door bell ringing will make any animal anxious. Why not opt for safety first and place your pet in a spare room that does not have access to the main entryway? Your animal will be safe and, hopefully, will not become emotionally unhinged.
Good luck and safe treating to all.
Featured felines:
Libby, a gray tabby approximately 4 years old, was found in the woods. Libby is a very sweet cat, loves to be petted and loves people. She gets along well with the other cats.
Rock, a black-and-white domestic longhair, was brought into Buddy approximately two years ago as a stray kitten. He is very sweet, a little shy, but does get along with other cats.
Buddy photo event with Wanda the Witch:
From 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 18, The Buddy Foundation, 65 W. Seegers Road, Arlington Heights, presents its annual Halloween photo event featuring Wanda the Witch. There will be prizes for the best costume and a bake sale with homemade goodies.
Bring your animals and your children in costume. There is $7.50 donation per picture, and with every picture receive a 20 percent off coupon valid in the gift shop though Dec. 26.
• The Buddy Foundation, 65 W. Seegers Road, Arlington Heights, is a nonprofit, all volunteer, no-kill animal shelter dedicated to the welfare of stray, abused and abandoned cats and dogs. For information, visit www.thebuddyfoundation.org or call (847) 290-5806.