THIS HALLOWEEN: SAFETY TIPS FOR PET PARENTS

Attention, companion animal caretakers. The ASPCA offers these
common-sense cautions to keep your pets safe and sound during this time of the year:
All but the most social dogs and cats should be kept in a separate room
during peak trick-or-treat visiting hours. Too many strangers
in unusual garb can be scary and stressful for pets.

When opening the door for trick-or-treaters, take care that your dog or
cat doesn't dart outside. Make sure all your pets are wearing
current identification, just in case.

No sweets for the sweet: Keep all Halloween candy out of your pet's
reach. Chocolate can be poisonous to animals, and tinfoil and
cellophane candy wrappers can be hazardous if swallowed.

It's not a bright idea to keep lit pumpkins around companion animals.
Pets can knock them over, and curious kittens in particular run
the risk of being burned.

PLEASE Don't leave your pet in the yard on Halloween.
There have been reports of vicious pranksters who have teased, injured,
stolen and even killed pets on this night.

Although the ASPCA recommends that cats remain indoors at all times,
it is especially important to keep your feline inside for several
days before and after Halloween. Black cats in particular
may be at risk from children's pranks or other cruelty-related incidents.

As a safety precaution, many shelters
will not adopt out black cats around Halloween.

Don't dress up your dog or cat unless you know they love it.
If you decide to do so, make sure the costume isn't annoying or unsafe,
and doesn't restrict her movement, vision, hearing or ability to
breathe or bark. Avoid costumes with small or dangling accessories
that they could chew off and possibly choke on. And
please supervise pets in costume at ALL times.

You and your pet have a wonderful Halloween!!!