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Halloween Safety Tips for Pets

Halloween is a festive and fun holiday for children and families, but for pets, it can be a stressful and dangerous time of the year.

Helping Hands offers the following common sense tips to pet owners to keep their pets safe this Halloween.

Don’t leave your pet outside in the yard on Halloween. Pranksters have been known to tease, injure, steal and even kill pets.

Keep outdoor cats inside several days before and after Halloween. Black cats in particular may be at risk from pranks or other cruelties.

Trick-or-treat candy is not for pets. Chocolate is poisonous to many animals. Tin foil and cellophane wrappers can be hazardous if swallowed.

Be cautious of lighted pumpkins. Pets can knock them over causing fires. Curious pets risk getting burned.

Don’t dress pets in costumes unless they like it. This puts too much stress on animals. If you do dress up your pet, make sure the costume is safe and doesn’t constrict movement, hearing, and the ability to breathe or bark. Do not obstruct your pet’s vision.

Be careful when opening the door for trick-or-treaters that your pet doesn’t dart outside. It’s best to keep pets in a separate room during trick-or-treat visits. Costume characters, masks and too many strangers can scare pets.

Make sure your pet is wearing proper identification in case they become lost.