This October, ensure your furry family members are safe during the Halloween festivities! Check out our 5 Safety Tips for a fun and happy Halloween for you and your pets.

#1 Hide Your Treats

Halloween treats are toxic to our pets. Chocolate in all forms—especially dark or baking chocolate—can be very dangerous for cats and dogs, and sugar-free candies containing the sugar substitute xylitol can cause serious problems in pets. If you suspect your pet has ingested something toxic, please call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 immediately.

#2 Take Care With Costumes

Costumes are so cute and fun for us humans, but our pets likely don’t feel the same way. If your pet shows signs of stress or discomfort, please don’t dress them up! Have fun with your pets, but don’t put your dog or cat in a costume unless you know he or she loves it. If you do dress up your pet for Halloween, make sure the costume does not limit his or her movement, sight or ability to breathe, bark or meow. Check the costume carefully for small, dangling or easily chewed-off pieces that could present a choking hazard. Ill-fitting outfits can get twisted on external objects or your pet, leading to injury.

Be sure to have your pet try on the costume before the big night! If a costume won’t do, try a festive collar or bandana instead!

#3 Keep Pets Indoors

Keep your pets away from the door when answering for trick or treaters to ensure that your dog or cat doesn’t dart outside. It may be a good idea to keep cats indoors for Halloween day to ensure their safety and no one harms them late in the evening. Sadly, black cats are known to be targeted on Halloween by criminals who wish to do them harm.

#4 Update ID Tags and Microchip Your Pets

Please ALWAYS make sure your pet is wearing proper ID tags! We also recommend microchipping and keeping your contact info up to date on microchips. A microchip could make the difference in finding a lost pet. We think this is great advice every day, not just for Halloween! HSNT offers microchipping services for just $15 at all of our locations. No appointment is needed to make a life-saving decision to have your pet microchipped. View our maps and hours for our adoption locations HERE.

An additional resource for locating lost pets is Petco Love Lost - a service that matches pictures of lost dogs and cats (using facial recognition), or found pets with new shelter arrivals to reunite them with their owners.

#5 Be Careful With Open Flames Keep pets away from open lit flames! Our happy Jack O’ Lanterns are fire hazards for the tails of our curious furry friends! When decorating, please be mindful of your pet’s location and hiding spots so you may keep them safe! Pets and People, Saving Each Other™

www.hsnt.org

HSNT’s mission is to act as an advocate on behalf of all animals and to ensure their legal, moral and ethical consideration and protection; to provide for the well-being of animals who are abandoned, injured, neglected, mistreated or otherwise in need; to promote an appreciation of animals; and to instill respect for all living things.