Keeping Pets Safe During Halloween Nights

HOUSTON - Halloween tricks and treats can be fun for both children and adults, but those strange costumes and spooky sounds can frighten even the most well-behaved pet.

The Houston SPCA encourages pet owners to take several precautions to make sure their pet stays safe and healthy during Halloween weekend.

Pet owners should make sure their pet is wearing a collar and identification tag and/or make sure that the pet has an embedded microchip with current information. If a pet escapes out an open door and becomes lost, this information is their ticket home.

The Houston SPCA recommends that pets be left indoors and not be taken trick-or-treating. Even the most well-tempered dog may panic and become aggressive if a ghost or goblin jumps out of the bushes. Instead, keep a pet in a quiet room away from the noise, excitement and strangers in costumes.

Candy can kill pets, since chocolate can be toxic to them, especially dogs. Xylitol, the artificial sweetener found in some candy can be poisonous to dogs as well. Loose candy wrappers made of aluminum foil or cellophane can cause intestinal blockage and vomiting. Pet owners should ask children not to share their candy with pets.

Lit pumpkins and candles should be kept out of a pet's reach as they pose an obvious fire hazard. Ribbons, streamers, electrical cords, confetti and fake cobwebs can all be dangerous if ingested by a curious pet.

As cute as it may be to dress up a pet, costumes can restrict an animal's ability to bark, breathe, move, see or hear. Pet owners should especially be careful when using costumes which use rubber bands as they can cut into a pet’s skin and cause injury. Instead, opt for something simple and fun like a Halloween bandana for a pet.

Keeping a pet indoors is especially important during Halloween. Although cats of all colors are at risk of being mistreated, black and white cats and their association with the supernatural may be direct targets of being teased, chased and abused.

Anyone can report a suspected occurrence of animal cruelty online at houstonspca.org or call 713-869-7722, seven days a week from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. The Houston SPCA 24-Hour Rescue Ambulance will pick up stray, injured animals and can be contacted at 713-880-4357 (HELP).