10/26/2023
With Halloween coming up, the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development has sent out the following tips for keeping your pets safe this Halloween:
Keep animals safe this holiday by following these five easy tips:
Unsafe Eats: Give Halloween candy to trick-or-treaters—not your animals.
Unfortunately, animals cannot enjoy all of the same treats and food we do. Be sure to keep candy or other sweets containing chocolate, raisins, and/or xylitol (an artificial sweetener found in many candies and gum) away from animals as these ingredients can be hazardous.
Search No More: Make sure animals have proper identification.
With opening the door for all the trick-or-treaters, it can be easy for animals to sneak out and get lost. Make sure animals have identification tags and/or up to date microchips with current contact information to improve the chances they are returned home.
Destress and Decompress: Have a quiet space for your animals.
Having a constant stream of visitors can be overly stimulating for animals. It is important to have a quiet space set aside for them to go if they are getting too stressed. Also, have the room stocked with their food, water, litter pan, etc. in case they would like to maintain their distance for an extended period of time.
Avoid Temptations: Keep Halloween decorations and wires out of reach.
Spooky decorations and lights not only make for a frightful display but also catch the eye of our animals. As these items can cause injury, be sure they are kept out of an animal’s reach, along with candles with an open flame, glow sticks, and potpourri.
Cautious Costumes: Be thoughtful when selecting a costume for your animal.
Our animals might not share the same enthusiasm for costumes that we do, causing them stress and discomfort. Beyond making sure animals are comfortable in their outfit, ensure the costume does not restrict their movement or breathing, block their sight, cause them to get overheated, or have small pieces that can be chewed off and become a choking hazard. Also, don’t leave a costumed pet unsupervised.