Keep Your Pet Safe on Halloween – 6 Pet Safety Tips For Halloween Night

Halloween can be a scary time. Every October 31st, the loud crack and bang of fireworks, spooky costumes, large groups of masked and marauding youths, and dark, hazy, smoky conditions add up to a mysterious, somewhat frightening night. Now imagine how your pet would feel with all this activity going on. Pretty spooked I’m sure. With all the chaos and unnatural events happening all around them, pets will be faced with uncertainty and are likely to react in unexpected ways to these new events unfolding before them. In order to keep your pets as safe as possible on this hectic night, we’ve compiled a list of measures you can take to make certain that your pets come through Halloween unscathed.

Leave Your Pets at Home and Indoors

This tip is especially important when it comes to cats. Since they are notoriously independent, outdoor cats will not enjoy being cooped up indoors but it is definitely for their own good. Cats are more likely to get spooked and run off given all that’s happening around them. If your keeping your dogs at home it would be best to bring them indoors to limit their anxiety. If they are left in a fenced backyard, they still sense and experience everything going on around them and it is possible they’ll go stir crazy and bark continuously.

Place Your Pets in a Separate Room

Even if you keep your pet indoors during Halloween, it may not be enough of a preventative step to ensure they are out of harms way. Pets are easily excitable as it is, but with all the loud noises and constant stream of strangers visiting the house, they are even more likely to be jumpy and may react unpredictably to all the chaos going on around them. On top of that, with the door constantly opening, it is possible for your pet to escape out into the wild night. To prevent this, simply place your pets in a separate room or in the basement for the few peak hours of activity.

Put Bright or Reflective Materials on Your Animal

If you do plan to take you pet out with you on Halloween, be sure to make them as visible as possible. Items such as reflective vests or L.E.D collars are a great and simple way to make sure your pets are noticeable and distinguishable. Although your pet may not like it, with so many people out, vehicles on the road, and the likelihood of bad weather, it is much safer for your pet to be easily identified.

Use a Short Leash

There are sure to be other people walking their pets as well, and with the heightened anxiety your pet will be experiencing, the likelihood of animals quarreling is greatly increased. To try and minimize pet interaction and potential conflict, use a short leash and pay close attention when around other animals so you’ll have better control over your pet.

Don’t Allow Anyone to Feed Candy to Your Pets

Little children may think they are being nice and kind but candy or chocolate for an animal is not a good idea. In fact, chocolate can be fatal to a pet if ingested in large enough quantities. Make sure your pet does not receive any “treats’ on Halloween and that goodies are kept away from your pet’s prying paws after Halloween.

Make Sure Your Pet has a Licence Tag

If your pet is let outside, runs away, or becomes separated from you somehow, having a licence tag on their collar could make all the difference in having them safely returned home. Make sure that your pet is registered and is wearing their licence tag at all times. It is well worth your time.

Following these tips should mitigate any of the dangers your pet may face and help ensure that you have a safe and fun Halloween!

Eronne Ward is a mother of three, guardian to kids in need, activist for the protection of children online and runs a kids entertainment and education website – http://www.cackleberries.com

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