Halloween Pet Safety Encouraged By Animal Care And Control

Posted by: KHTS FM 98.1 & AM 1220 in Santa Clarita News October 29, 2013 - 2:18 pm 0 162 Views

On Halloween night, the entire family often goes out for trick or treat fun.

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With this in mind, it’s important to keep animals secure, as Halloween can be a frightening and dangerous time for animals, especially for outdoor cats and skittish dogs.

The Los Angeles Department of Animal Care and Control has some tips to keep animals safe during Halloween festivities:

Keep pets indoors in a secure, comfortable area where a radio or television is playing in the background. Many pets fear the noises that trick-or-treaters make.
Always keep your pet’s license current and be sure that the ID tags are securely affixed a pet’s collar.
A license tag is the only voice a pet has if he or she becomes lost.
Do not leave pets outside unattended.
Loud noises and children in costumes frighten pets and they may panic, become confused, and go through great lengths to escape their enclosures.
Keep pets away from all candy.
Chocolate, which contains theobromine, can be poisonous to pets, causing nerve damage and even death.
Properly dispose of all candy wrappers.
Foil and cellophane candy wrappers are tempting treats for pets and can cause them to choke or suffer from intestinal blockage.
Keep pumpkins and jack-o-lanterns away from pets.
They can easily knock them over, which could result in a painful burn.
Halloween pet costumes can pose safety hazards for pets.
Do not dress your pet up unless he or she is used to it. Make sure that your pet’s costume does not restrict his or her movement, vision, hearing, or the ability to breathe or bark.
Halloween pet costumes should not have small or dangling accessories that can be swallowed by your pet.