It is truly amazing to see how creativity in the spirit of Halloween flourishes up here in Canada. Even your pets can be part of the trick or treating charades! Yes, I took my niece to trick or treat and I was literally rolling in laughter and was hit by pure astonishment. I saw a few dogs dressed up to impress and the creativity that spawned through this event was very diverse and vast . A little “bling” or properly draped scrap of fabric can easily transform your pet into any celebrity, cartoon character etc. I was very wary when I saw a few pets became “entangled” in their own costumes and this made me ponder about safety issues in relations to pets. So i decided to research a bit on safety issues for pets. Here is what I came up with from a website: http://www.halloween-safety.com/halloween_safety_pets.html
Halloween Safety Tips for Pets
1) As much as your dog or cat may beg for some of your Halloween candy, always remember that chocolate is deadly to them in any amount.
2) If you work in a pet store, remember that this is the time of year that can be deadly for black cats. Some sick people who play at being what they’ll call a Satanist will buy them to “sacrifice” If you can, don’t take any black cats or sell them during October.
3) The wrappers, such as tin foil, can get stuck in your pets digestive tract and make them ill or cause death. There are plenty of recipes for making home made dog and cat treats, you can always make them on a Halloween note.
4) Dogs can have lethal tails, wagging all over the place. Don’t leave any lighted candles or Jack-O-Lanterns where they could be knocked over by a swinging tail or by a curious cat. Not only could your pet start a fire but they could severely burn themselves in the process.
5) If you are going to dress your pet in a costume, keep in mind that unless the dog or cat is extremely receptive to this kind of thing, you could be causing it discomfort and stress. Some animals don’t mind at all but others do not want to be bothered with this kind of thing. They’ll be under enough stress with the festivities going on outside and people at the door constantly so don’t cause them any more nervousness then you have to. You may love to dress in costume but then, you aren’t a dog or a cat.
6 ) If you put a mask of some type on your animal, make sure that the eye holes are big enough for them to see peripherally. Animals depend on their vision to let them know what’s going on and even the nicest dog can get snippy if he can’t see what’s around him. In fact, masks really aren’t a good idea.
7 ) If you are having a indoor party, make sure that you put your dog or cat in a room where they won’t be disturbed. Unless your pet is ultra friendly and doesn’t mind loud noises, music and lots of people you should keep them separate for the night. Also, be careful your cat or dog doesn’t dart out through the open door as you hand out candy. Best bet is to just put them in a room with some food and water for the night and check on them once in a while to let them know everything is fine.
Any one care to comment on other safety tips or dangerous practices during Haloween?
Posted by Ajay
