Safe Halloween for Pets.

I don't celebrate Halloween, but I thought that the Pet Halloween Tips from The Humane Society and the ASPCA ought to be the subject of this post.

Also, I thought you might enjoy some cute Pet Costumes.

From the Humane Society:

"Scares on Halloween are fun and games for humans, but sometimes a little too spooky for pets. Pets aren’t used to the costumes, constant doorbell ringing and just general commotion that tends to occur ever October 31.

The Humane Society of the United States has some tips to help make it a Happy Halloween for all members of the family, including the four-legged, furry type.

•Keep pets indoors, away from trick-or-treaters and other Halloween activity.

•Make sure that all ID tags are up-to-date. There is a higher likelihood of a pet escaping with the constant door opening for kids.

•Keep candy away from pets. Chocolate in particular can be toxic to them.

 

 

•People enjoy costumes. Pets, on the other hand, don’t particularly have fun wearing them. If you must put your pet in a costume, forgo masks and make sure that the pet will be safe in the costume. Some costumes might cause discomfort or injury.

•Keep decorations safely out of a pet’s reach. Candles could burn their fur, while fake cobwebs can cause choking. Fake webs hung up outdoors could also be a hazard for animals that live outside, like birds.

•Leave the pets at home when trick-or-treating. The commotion can get overwhelming, and might cause pets to get scared and bite, or even run off.

"Halloween can be a good time for kids and grown-ups alike, the Humane Society of the United States is reminding all of us pet owners that this haunting holiday may be too scary for our pets. Dogs and cats and other companion animals simply aren’t used to all the doorbells ringing, costumed creatures and general hustle-and-bustle that come into our homes at this time of year.

“For your pet’s comfort and safety, the best thing that you can do is to make sure that they have a stress-free holiday,” said Adam Goldfarb of the Humane Society. “The noises, smells and people can be overwhelming for many pets on Halloween, so create a safe haven in one room of your home where he or she can quietly relax.”

To help keep pets safe and happy this Halloween, the Humane Society recommends the following tips:
• Keep your pets safely indoors, away from trick-or-treaters and other Halloween activities.

• Make sure that all of your pets are wearing tags with current ID. Opening the door repeatedly for trick-or-treaters creates plenty of escape opportunities.

• Keep candy out of your pets’ reach. Chocolate and other ingredients can be toxic to them. (Same goes for chocolate Easter bunnies in the spring; we found out the hard way.)

• Most pets are happiest wearing nothing but their birthday suit, but if you’re one of those people who has their pets wear a costume, skip the masks and make sure costumes are comfortable and do not pose a risk for injury.

• Decorations can be dangerous, so be sure to keep them safely away from pets. Candle flames can set fire to a pet’s fur (and trick-or-treater's costumes, for that matter). Hanging or dangling decorations also can be an entanglement or choking hazard.

• Use fake cobwebs sparingly, if at all. Pets can choke on fake cobwebs set up indoors. Outdoors, fake webs are a hazard to birds and other wildlife.

• When going out trick-or-treating, leave your dog at home. Dogs can be easily excited by the Halloween commotion and a dog bite or lost dog will quickly end the evening’s fun.

Also, don’t forget about wildlife on Halloween, either. Nocturnal animals such as raccoons, possums (or is it opossums?) and foxes will be out looking for food.

If you come across a wild animal while out trick-or-treating, keep your distance (and keep your pets away from wild animals, too).

And though bats are classically associated with Halloween, those in colder climates will most likely be hibernating at this time of year."

Happy Halloween everyone!"
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Halloween Safety Tips from the ASPCA:

No Scaredy Cats This Halloween: Top 10 Safety Tips for Pet Parents

"Attention, animal lovers, it's almost the spookiest night of the year! The ASPCA recommends taking some common sense precautions this Halloween to keep you and your pet saying "trick or treat!" all the way to November 1.

1. No tricks, no treats: That bowl of candy is for trick-or-treaters, not for Scruffy and Fluffy. Chocolate in all forms—especially dark or baking chocolate—can be very dangerous for dogs and cats. Candies containing the artificial sweetener xylitol can also cause problems. If you do suspect your pet has ingested something toxic, please call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

2. Popular Halloween plants such as pumpkins and decorative corn are considered to be relatively nontoxic, but they can produce stomach upset in pets who nibble on them.

3. Wires and cords from electric lights and other decorations should be kept out of reach of your pets. If chewed, your pet might suffer cuts or burns, or receive a possibly life-threatening electrical shock.

4. A carved pumpkin certainly is festive, but do exercise caution if you choose to add a candle. Pets can easily knock a lit pumpkin over and cause a fire. Curious kittens especially run the risk of getting burned or singed by candle flames.

5. Dress-up can be a big mess-up for some pets. Please don't put your dog or cat in a costume UNLESS you know he or she loves it (yup, a few pets are real hams!). For pets who prefer their “birthday suits,” however, wearing a costume may cause undue stress.

6. If you do dress up your pet, make sure the costume isn't annoying or unsafe. It should not constrict the animal's movement or hearing, or impede his ability to breathe, bark or meow. Also, be sure to try on costumes before the big night. If your pet seems distressed, allergic or shows abnormal behavior, consider letting him go 'au naturale' or donning a festive bandana.

7. Take a closer look at your pet’s costume and make sure it does not have small, dangling or easily chewed-off pieces that he could choke on. Also, ill-fitting outfits can get twisted on external objects or your pet, leading to injury.

8. All but the most social dogs and cats should be kept in a separate room away from the front door during peak trick-or-treating hours. Too many strangers can be scary and stressful for pets.

9. When opening the door for trick-or-treaters, take care that your cat or dog doesn't dart outside.

10. IDs, please! Always make sure your dog or cat has proper identification. If for any reason your pet escapes and becomes lost, a collar and tags and/or a microchip can be a lifesaver, increasing the chances that he or she will be returned to you."
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Please keep your kids and pets safe this Halloween.
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Today:


 









Jay and I screwed more deadwood to the floor, and fitted the last piece in.  Now it just need to be fastened down.

Ray primed and painted one side of the cargo trailer.

Then Jay and I went into the next town and he bought a lovely vinyl $250 storm/screen door for $50, for his house from the 'Scratch & Dent' dept. at Lowes, and I bought more paint for the trailer.

A quick stop at Kroger's and we found some salmon on sale, and then PetSmart to get Bobcat's special food with Glucosamine and Chondroitin Omega 3 in it.  That helps her arthritis.

A lovely day, after a low in the 40s last night.  No AC needed today.