http://www.care2.com/greenliving/protect-pets-on-halloween.html
Protect Pets on Halloween
By Hilary Stamper, Environmental Activism Manager, Care2.com
The following is a list of precautions suggested and recommended by numerous animal shelters and veterinarians designed to keep pets safe on Halloween.
NOISES and STRANGE STRANGERS:
Trick or treaters can cause loud and excessive noise and frighten your pet, so try to keep your pets inside in a quiet room where they are insulated from the Halloween rukus. : )
Pets, especially dogs, that are easily excitable or threatened by strangers should be kept from the front door so they cannot bite anyone or run into the street. With many people visiting the home in strange attire, even normally calm pets might overreact.
Keep pets on a shorter-than-normal leash if you plan on walking outside on Halloween. Again, scary and weird looking trick-or-treaters could provoke aggression in even the nicest pet.
KISS OF DEATH
Candy, especially chocolate, is toxic for animals and can cause vomiting, restlessness, heart disturbances, and even death. Ask kids not to share candy with pets.
CANDLES
Be careful with lit pumpkins and candles because pets can knock them over and start a fire. Therefore ensure that all burning objects are out of pet’s reach. Remember that cats can jump high, and birds can fly, so try to confine a pet if it demonstrates an “unhealthy” interest in flames (e.g. it puts its paws in lit pumpkins or tries to play with candles).
PETS IN DISGUISE
Avoid costumes held in place by rubber bands, which can be uncomfortable and, more important, rubber bands mistakenly left on a pet can quickly burrow into the animal’s skin and cause injury. Additionally, rubber bands in the wrong place can choke a bird.
If a pet wears a costume, make sure it is not constricting, causing your pet to trip, or blocking its vision. Do not force a pet to wear a costume if it demonstrates discomfort. All of the above can cause undue stress and possibly cause aggression in even the nicest dog, goldfish, or iguana.
EVIL IN THE NIGHT
Don’t leave pets outside on Halloween. Many animals disappear as pranksters and those with darker intentions tease, abduct, torture, or even kill pets.
Be especially watchful of black cats, who which are frequent targets of cruel activities on Halloween. Try to keep black cats inside for the week of Halloween. Many animal shelters make black cats unavailable for adoption the week before Halloween because of black cat abuse.
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41 comments
add your comment »Cats are safer indoors at any time of the year, but all the stories about Satanic rituals are just that--stories. They are urban legends, along with the poisoned candy stories that circulate every year.
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http://www.snopes.com/horrors/mayhem/blackcat.asp
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http://www.care2.com/greenliving/protect-pets-on-halloween.html
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I have 2 big black fluffy cats with gold eyes, and I never let them out on Halloween or Friday the 13th either. Actually, since I live in an Apartment Complex, I don't let them outside at all if I can help it. They are strictly indoor cats because I don't trust people or the neighborhood kids.
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LaJenna, youre definitely on to something there- Carob is the one thing that dogs can have. It's "doggy chocolate" (as I call it) and is very safe for pets to have. It's a bit more expensive, and is usually part of the more natural dog treats that are made with the same ingredients used in our own food.
You can usually find them in gourmet treat shops and such.
Definitely worth the extra money to keep your dog safe!
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I had a black cat for 18 years (died of a brain tumor). He was always an indoor/outdoor cat, and he was the sweetest thing EVER! When I would pick him up, he'd burrow into the side of my neck and sleep. I hated having to keep him inside on halloween and friday the 13th, He didn't understand why he couldn't go outside. He almost got caught one year. Someone let him out after I went to school, and he was on the porch when I came home, and there was a group of teenage boys approaching him. I would have killed them if they had touched him.
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For those who want to share a treat with their dog..to my understanding carob is the thing to give them
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KEEP YOUR DARLINGS INSIDE HALLOWEEN
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We are the care givers for our furry friends 24/7, and we need to be especially vigilent on Halloween to keep them safe from harm.
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My God, I've been so busy taking care of my family all these years that I had no Idea people (kids?) are so mean to Pets! No wonder the USA is falling apart. Don't any children learn right from wrong anymore? If you catch a kid doing this to a animal call the cops and let the parents pay for not teaching them right from wrong! "INDIAN BOY"
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