Vampire Gunny the Corgi

Here are some pet safety tips from the Humane Society of Southern Arizona and the ASPCA.

As cute as you think your dog is in his or her costume, do not take your pet trick or treating along with your kids. There are just too many things that can go wrong.

Remember Halloween candy is for the little kids and the big kids (you). Some kinds of candy like chocolate or made with Xylitol can be extremely toxic to pets. Keep the candy out of reach. If you suspect your pet has ingested something toxic, call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.

If you do decide to dress up your pet, make sure the costume fits properly and does not restrict their breathing or vision. Only dress up your pet to amuse your family not strangers.

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 or she could choke on.

Keep your pet in a separate room during trick-or-treat hours. Not only will this keep them safely in the house, but will also help reduce your pet’s stress as plenty of strangers will be coming to the door and ringing the doorbell.

Keep outdoor cats inside for a few days before and after Halloween to keep them safe from pranksters, especially black cats.

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

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.

A carved pumpkin is festive, but exercise caution if you 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.

Ensure that your pet has on a collar with tag and the correct phone number 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 your pet will be returned.

In Tucson, if your pet becomes lost, immediately call the HSSA’s Lost and Found Department at 327-6088, ext. 111, and Pima Animal Care Center at 743-7550 to file a lost report and obtain information on conducting an effective search. Also be sure to visit each shelter every day to look for your pet in person.

(Photo: Gunny takes his Halloween responsibilities seriously. Submitted by Diane Burda)

Vampira & Devil Dog

Whether you’re a fan of Halloween or not, don’t forget to make it safe for your dogs and cats.

–Hide the candy. Don’t leave it lying around, wrapped or unwrapped. My dogs counter surf so if I had candy in the house, it would have to be moved to higher ground. Don’t tempt them. Chocolate and candy with xylitol is lethal. Foil wraps and lollipop sticks get stuck in the digestive track. 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.

–Jack-o-lanterns with candles and dogs or cats don’t mix. Pets can accidentally knock them over causing fires or suffer burnt paws and tails.

–If you own a cat and let it go outside (which I think is a dumb idea anyway as we live in coyote country), Halloween is a bad time of year for cats especially black cats. Keep the cats indoors a few days before and after October 31. Cruel people use Halloween as an excuse to be cruel to cats.

Pimp Daddy Greyhound

–Many of us think it’s cute to see our pets wearing costumes but if the dog is uncomfortable, don’t force it. If you put a mask on the dog, ensure they can see and breathe. Take a closer look at your pet’s costume and make sure it does not have easily chewed-off pieces that he could choke on. There’s no such thing as forcing a cat to wear a costume.

–Ding dong! Ding dong! Ding dong! If you open the door for candy munchkins, put the pets in another room with the TV on or behind a baby gate or ex-pen. Your pet may run out of the house, attack the candy bowl, or attack a scary looking kid waiting for his or her candy.

–Make sure your pet has I.D. tags and a collar with reflective tape on in case there’s a worse case scenario.

Here’s hoping all our four-legged friends have a safety and happy Halloween.

Princess Greyhound

(Vampira & Devil Dog is courtesy of the Burda Family who take Halloween very seriously. The greyhound photos were submitted by Cyndi Rennick.)