Halloween Safety Tips

Though Halloween night can be filled with fun and foolishness, safety for all in your family is first and foremost. Below you will find Pets911.com’s 8 Halloween must do’s and don’ts for your furry friends. Make Halloween a safe and joyful holiday for you and your animals!!

1. No chocolate…no matter how cute they look in their costumes! Chocolate is toxic to animals, in fact according to the AZ Humane Society, a 10 pound dog can have a fatal reaction to just a few ounces of chocolate! Play it safe, don’t give your animals any treats besides their regular chews, bones and Charlie Bears!

2. Costumes are the best part of Halloween for most children and adults, but for our pets, they can be a nightmare. If you do decide to dress up your pet, please remember these important pointers:

1. Make sure your pet isn’t near an open flame or fireplace;
2. Watch for tripping hazards, choking hazards, etc…;
3. If your dog wears a mask or head piece, make sure they can see easily and are comfortable, a frazzled dog can lead to a snippy one;
4. Never leave a dressed up animal unsupervised!

3. Trick or Treaters equal open doors - keep your pet away from doors and make sure they are wearing their collars with current tags at all times. To get your dogs or cats licensed or up to date, please contact your county or city animal control for licensing fees and information.

4. Watch foil and plastic candy wrappers! Pets could eat them and choke or get sick.

5. Events like Halloween can be stressful for animals, keep them inside, and comfortable. Some kids get more adventurous while wearing a mask and teasing can often occur through gates or fences.

6. Watch open flames around waging tails, a powerful tail can knock that candle or jack-o-lantern right over.

7. Though lights and mechanical ghouls can be a treat for your guests, an animal could get quite a shock if they chew on them. Leave all electrical wires, cords and decorations out of the reach of your pets.

8. Leave your furry friends at home. Though this night is a great time for families to trick or treat together, an animal can be easily startled by costumes and loud noises, so although they may want to join in, taking them out with you can lead to trouble.

Most importantly, have fun and make sure every member in your family has a safe and fantastic Halloween!!