Halloween may be the most spook-tacular night of the year for many human Angelenos who enjoy the fun and festivities. But for some furry family members, the holiday can be a nightmare because the sweet treats and some of the Halloween decor can be dangerous and even fatal to our animal companions. And even normally mellow pets can get spooked by the strange sounds, frightful sights, and people in masks or dressed up in costume.
LA Animal Services offers the following safety tips to keep the fright and stress away and make Halloween safe for you and pets:
- No sweets for your four-legged sweetie. Chocolate and other Halloween candies can be poisonous to dogs and cats. Ensure sweet treats are out of the pet’s reach and throw wrappers away in the trash. This may be a good teaching opportunity for children who may not understand why pets can’t share their treats.
- Costumes are optional because not all pets enjoy dressing up. A decorative collar is far more comfortable than a costume for your pet. Make sure your pet thinks a costume is as much fun as you do before you dress them up. If you do put your pet in a costume, try it on to make sure they are comfortable, and ensure it will not get wrapped around their neck causing choking or get tangled around their legs. (If you are planning to dress up your pet, you can head over to Tailwaggers at 147 N. Larchmont Blvd. for its costume contest from 4 p.m. – 5 p.m. And if you and your pet are not into costumes and prefer treats instead, the store is offering Pupper Treats from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.)
- Ensure your pet is licensed and microchipped with current identification. If for any reason your pet becomes lost, ensuring they have a collar with a current LA City license and/or ID tag on them and a microchip that’s registered with your most up-to-date contact information, will help reunite you with your companion animal.
- Be careful around Jack-o’-lanterns and other Halloween decor. Tail wagging is a good thing – unless it’s done around a lit candle! Keep candles and candle-lit carved pumpkins at an appropriate height where your pets can’t knock them over or get burned or start a fire. Electric cords from decorative lights can entice your pet to play with or chew them, potentially leading to strangulation, burns, or death. Keep all cords, strings, and Halloween decorations out of your pet’s reach.
- Keep glow sticks out of reach. Glow sticks can help keep children safe, but should be kept out away from your pets. The liquid inside glow sticks are non-toxic, but it can agitate your pet and in some cases, cause your pet to get sick.
- Keep pets indoors and create a calming environment. Pets can become frightened by loud sounds, causing them to panic and escape their homes. Help reduce your pet’s anxiety by creating a calm and quiet environment for your pet.
For more information about LA Animal Services, and how to keep your pets safe, visit: laanimalservices.com.
