Halloween Safety
for Kids and Kitties


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Protect your pet during Halloween by keeping it at home. A pets who’s out with Trick-or-Treaters can be spooked by the excited voices of youngsters, as well as by their costumes, causing the animal to run and become lost from home.

While you’re greeting Trick-or-Treaters at your home, keep your pet confined and away from the door. This will help to prevent your dog or cat from darting outdoors.

If you’re a dog owner, remember that your pooch may feel that its territory is being invaded by the constant ringing of the door bell or the knocks on your front door, and, therefore, may become anxious and bothered. By keeping him or her away from the front door, you’ll help to keep your dog calm and prevent it from growling or possibly biting your visiting goblins and ghouls.

The Denver Dumb Friends League recommends that you always keep your cat indoors, unless it’s wearing a harness and leash and is with you. However, if you own a cat who is black, you need to be especially careful on Halloween since Trick-or-Treaters may be inclined to yell or act excitedly when they see it, and this could, of course, frighten your feline friend.

It’s also important to remember that some people are superstitious about black cats and could try to harm them. There are plenty of stories of vicious pranksters who have teased, injured, stolen or even killed pets on this night

If you’re thinking of giving someone a black cat to celebrate Halloween, give that person a homemade gift certificate for a local animal shelter instead. This will allow the individual to select just the right cat, or other pet, for themselves and to adopt a new pet at a time that’s most convenient for them.

Be careful of pets around a lit pumpkin. Pets may knock it over and cause a fire. Curious kittens especially run the risk of getting burned.

Celebrate Halloween with your pet by sharing with it only goodies that are made especially for its species, like dog biscuits or cat treats. Trick or treat candies are not for pets. Chocolate is toxic, and tin foil and cellophane candy wrappers can be hazardous if swallowed.

Additionally, keep the Halloween candy in your house out of your pet’s reach. Just like table scraps, candy can make your pet quite sick. In fact, chocolate can actually be fatal to dogs. Two things in chocolate cause toxic effects: theobromine and caffeine. Signs of toxicity include vomiting, loose stools, restlessness, hyperexcitability, rapid breathing and seizures. If you suspect toxicity get your pet to a vet immediately

SAFE TRICK OR TREATING

These safety reminders are derived from the National Crime Prevention Council, McGruff the Crime Dog, and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Make sure young children are accompanied by an adult or responsible teenager when they go door-to-door.
If you can't accompany your children, instruct them to trick-or-treat in their own neighborhood and in well-lighted streets.
If children are going to be out after dark, make sure they carry a flashlight.
Teach your children to use the sidewalks if they can. If there are no sidewalks, walk on the left side of the street facing cars.
Know which friends your children will be with and which route they are taking.
Leave your porch light on so children will know it's OK to visit your home.
Instruct children never to eat anything until they are home and the treats have been carefully examined. Cut and wash fruit before eating. Throw away anything unwrapped. Check the wrappers of commercial treats for evidence of tampering.
Call the police if there are any suspicious treats.

Help keep the holidays happy for everyone.
Share these tips with your neighbors.

["The Kittens" by ShirleyBo "Poe"] [Halloween Kitties, pg 1]
[Halloween Kitties, pg 2] [Halloween Kitties, pg 3]
[Halloween Safety for Kits and Kids] [The Witches' Kitchen]
["Halloween Remembered" by Pat] [Sue's Spooktacular Snackables]
[Halloween Humor] [Halloween Hollow Main Page]
[Tally's Home Page]

"Spooks On Parade"