Tips for keeping your pets safe this Halloween
Bags full of little candy bars, houses decorated with orange and purple lights, pumpkins with faces and children dressed in costumes for trick-or-treating. Halloween is upon us.
The Humane Society of the United States and the American Humane Association offer suggestions for keeping our pets safe on Halloween.
• Keep your pet in a quiet place, away from trick-or-treaters and other Halloween activities. Dogs could become frightened or agitated by the unaccustomed sights and sounds of little visitors dressed in costume.
Also, frequently opened doors offer a perfect opportunity for animals to escape. It's a good idea to make sure all pets are wearing collars and ID tags in case there is an escape.
One of my neighbors removes the top screen in their storm door for safe and easy access to everyone trick-or-treating. I've always thought that was a good idea.
• Place live flame decorations like candles and jack-o'-lanterns out of your pet's reach. A curious nose or wagging tail can be singed or burned, or knock over a pumpkin or candle.
• Keep the candy and chocolates away from our pets. They may taste good to them, but the chocolate can be toxic. The candy wrappers can also be harmful if swallowed.
• Both animal groups suggest resisting the urge to dress your pet in costume.
The HSUS notes, “If you do decide to play dress-up, make sure the costume is safe for your pet and doesn't constrain movement, hearing or ability to breathe. Check the costume for parts your pet could chew off and choke on, and look for dangling pieces, like flowing capes, that could injure them.”
• Don't let the family dog accompany the kids on their trick-or-treat outing. Children may have a difficult time handling the pet and the dog could get loose, especially if he is spooked by the strange sights and sounds of fellow trick-or-treaters.
• Keep decorations like streamers and fake spider webs — that pets could chew on — and wires and electrical cords from Halloween decorations out of reach. If pets chew on decorations they could choke or become ill. Chewing on electrical cords risks electric shock.
Halloween, by the nature of the holiday, is filled with so many strange sights, noises and happenings. Rather than participate in it, our dogs would probably prefer a calm, quiet walk on Nov. 1.
• The Buddy Foundation, 65 W. Seegers Road, Arlington Heights, is a nonprofit 501(c) 3 shelter. Call (847) 290-5806 or visit www.thebuddyfoundation.