Halloween Safety Tips!
Halloween night is fast approaching and for many households it a great day for fun and frolics, however Halloween can be very stressful for your pet. Before the nights festivities begin put your pet in a quiet room where they will be safe from all the activity. Make sure the rooms remains off limits for any guests you may have as makes and costumes can be very frightening to your animal.
Everyone loves going out with their family trick-or-treating but it is no place for your dog and they should really stay at home. Dogs are easily excited, and a bite or a lost animal can quickly ruin the evening for everyone.
The Halloween Stash
On the lead up to Halloween and trick-or -treating, keep your sweets and treats in a secure area away from your pets. Many foods ie chocolate are hazardous to pets. Make sure that your children are aware of the dangers also.
If your pet accidentally consumes anything that they shouldn’t have and your are concerned about their welfare please contact your vet immediately.
Halloween Decorations
Decorating your home and garden is getting more popular, however changes in your home can make your pets (especially cats) nervous. While decorating your home is fun you and your children bare in mind the hazards to your pets:
- Candles can be easily knocked and cause a fire in your home, scented candles can also be toxic.
- Small rubber decorations – eyeballs, spiders, bats can cause choking.
- Glow sticks and fake blood can lead to possible poisoning.
- Fake cobwebs, can also cause choking, and can tangle your pet or wildlife if used outside.
- Watch out for those sweet wrappers and plastic packaging too!
Halloween Costumes
Best to keep pet costumes minimal. If you do decide to dress up your pet watch out for signs of discomfort including folded down ears, eyes rolling, tucked tail and hunch body. If you see any of these signs remove the costume immediately.
Outdoor Dangers
When your a pet owner everyday is different and Halloween is no exception. It is now the law to have your dog micro-chipped and registered with the correct information. This allows Halloween runaways to be re-united quickly with their owners and reducing stress for everyone.
Unfortunately stray animals can fall victim to abuse or cruel Halloween pranks. If you witness animal cruelty, contact your local Garda station immediately and the ISPCA National Animal Cruelty Helpline on 1890 515 515 or report online.
ISPCA Public Relations Manager Carmel Murray said: “While we all enjoy the festivities of Halloween, many pets and wildlife will find this time of year terrifying. It is important that they have a secure place to hide indoors if they are frightened by the noises of fireworks and trick-or-treaters calling to the door. Leaving the lights low, and playing the radio or television can help drown out some of the sounds as it can be a stressful time for them. It is also important our pets are kept safe in a secure room where they cannot dart out an open door. If your pet manages to escape, it is important they are wearing an ID tag plus they should be microchipped, which is a legal requirement for all dogs and puppies once they are 12 weeks old. Pets that have been found will be scanned for a microchip which holds the pet owners contact details so it is important this information is kept up to date”.
“Halloween can also be a dangerous time for our wildlife so it is important to check under wood, scrub and leaves for hibernating hedgehogs before lighting any bonfires.
