5 tips to ensure pets stay safe and comfortable at Halloween 1. Think things through before putting
your pet in a Halloween costume. Unless your dog or cat is extremely
receptive to this kind of thing, you could be causing discomfort and
stress. If you do dress up your pet, make sure the costume doesn’t
obstruct your pet’s vision and isn't uncomfortable or unsafe. 2.
Know when to say “No!” This isn’t news to anyone, but dogs and cats
will beg for treats. But please remember that Halloween goodies are for
the humans not pets. Most pet guardians know that chocolate is
poisonous to pets, but candies made with the sugar substitute Xylitol
are also dangerous. Candy wrappers can also pose a problem. Be sure to
keep candy and candy wrappers out of paw’s reach. 3. Your
pets might not be the party animals in your family. If you’re having a
party, put your pets in a room where they won't be disturbed. Be sure to
check on them and reassure them that everything is all right. They may
not be prepared to take part in the Halloween fun, but they don’t want
to be isolated and ignored, either. Also don’t give alcoholic beverages
to dogs, cats, birds or any other animals. Keep a watchful eye on party
guests. Some may think it's funny to give an animal alcohol, but it can
result in serious illness and even death. 4. Don’t let
your pets become escape artists. Be extra careful that cats or dogs
don't dart outside through an open door. Once a pet is out the door, its
familiar neighborhood can become unfamiliar and scary territory on
Halloween. House and yard decorations, Trick-or-Treaters and increased
traffic can panic an escaped pet. A panicked pet may run too far from
home to find its way back. 5. (Fire) safety first. Pets
don’t understand that small fires are inside of pumpkin Jack-O-Lanterns. Dogs,
particularly enthusiastic tail-waggers, can easily knock over a pumpkin
and cause a fire. Curious cats and kittens also run the risk of getting burned.
Place Jack-O-Lanterns where they can’t be knocked over by swinging tails
or prying paws. As a professional pet sitter in Boca Raton, Florida, I get to visit the homes of pet guardians and see the potential hazards of sliding glass doors, broken yard fences and even dangerous plants that can be hazardous to pets so I am always able to advise my customers about precautions to keep their pets safe. Holidays like Halloween that feature chocolate and other candies can be especially dangerous so when I am house sitting for dogs and cats I look around for any candy that might be on display or even in trash cans that the pets can get to and place them out of reach or in the refrigerator. Make holidays fun for everyone - and safe! Happy Halloween, the beginning of the winter holiday season of parties and decorations. About the Author: Nanette Gordon is a professional, licensed, bonded and insured pet sitter, dog walker and house watching specialist in Boca Raton, Florida. She has been providing her personal care taking services since 2002. Visit her website for more details: http://nanettegordon.com |








