Halloween is right around the corner, and while this is a festive day for people, it can sometimes be a bit scary for our pets. Below are some tips and tricks to keep this exciting holiday from being an outright spooky and stressful experience for your furry friends:
- Keep the Halloween treats out of reach. Candy, especially chocolate, can make your pet sick and can even be fatal.
- Put your pets in a separate room away from the door during peak trick-or-treating times. This will help reduce stress associated with constant visitors in strange costumes. It will also prevent them from darting outside when the door is open.
- Keep your pets indoors. Pets that are out at night with trick-or-treaters might get spooked by noises and costumes, which could cause them to run away.
- Always make sure your dog or cat has proper identification. If, for any reason, your pet escapes and becomes lost, a collar, ID tag and microchip can be lifesavers, increasing the chances that your pet will be returned to you.
- Wires and cords from decorations should be kept out of reach, as they can be dangerous if chewed. Your pet could cut or burn himself or receive a possibly life-threatening electrical shock.
Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s talk about what we’re really here for: the fun, funky and hilarious Halloween pet costumes. But before you and your pet win Best Couples Costume of 2018, let’s make sure these adorable, well-planned costumes won’t lead to a frightful night for your critter:
- Don’t restrict your pet’s ability to walk and sit down comfortably.
- Avoid making your pet wear a mask that covers his eyes, ears or nose.
- Don’t put your pet in a costume that makes it difficult to breathe. This is especially important for flat-nosed dogs such as bulldogs, pugs and Pekingese.
- Always supervise your pet while in costume. Pieces of the costume, when chewed, can pose a choking hazard.
- Read your pet’s body language when he’s wearing a costume; if he looks miserable, he probably is.
- Alternatives to dressing up your pet could be a festive bandana or collar.
Most importantly, have a safe and fun Halloween. Remember, if you’re in the market for a cat, dog, small pet or horse, visit us at the Dumb Friends League. All our pets really want to be for Halloween is adopted!
Looking for a pet of your own to (appropriately) dress up? Check out our adoptable pets today.