Keep your pet safe this Halloween!

Between ringing doorbells, scary disguises and easy access to candy, Halloween can be a scary and dangerous time for pets. Animal Friends offers tips to keep pets safe and healthy during the Halloween season:

  • During the trick-or-treat hours, safely confine your companion animal in a room of your house away from the front door. The constant opening of the door provides easy opportunities for a quick escapes outside. Be sure your pet’s identification tags and microchip are up-to-date just in case she ever does escape and become lost.
  • Keep all candy and wrappers out of your pet’s reach. Chocolate and sweeteners like xylitol are poisonous to pets. Some pets like to tear open crinkly wrappers and may ingest foil or paper as a result. If your companion animal does eat a significant amount of candy, call your veterinarian immediately or contact the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at 1.888.426.4435.
  • Understand that costumes can be quite scary to your pet. Pets are often suspicious of new things—which is an important instinct that helped their ancestors survive. Never tease or try to scare a pet while you’re in costume, because even a friendly pet may feel threatened by and scratch or bite.
  • Keep jack-o-lanterns and other flammable décor safely out of your pet’s reach.
  • Black cats are not evil nor do they hold any special powers, but at this time of year they can fall victim to pranks and cruelty. It is always safer for cats to be kept indoors. However, if your cat does go outside, be sure to keep him in the house several days before and after Halloween, especially if he is a black cat.
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