Spooktacular Dogs and Cats Available for Adoption this Week!

Boo! Just in time for Halloween, after reading about some spooktacular dogs and cats available for adoption, continue to read some tips on keeping your pets safe this Halloween, courtesy of PETA Kids.

Buck is definitely ready for next week! Buck is a tall, dark, and handsome Flat-Coated Retriever mix between 1 and 2 years old with perhaps a touch of Shepherd. Clearly Buck is awesome because any pooch that gets dressed up for Halloween is a-ok in my book! Head down to Last Hope Animal Rescue today and scoop up Buck today!

And what better says Halloween than an adorable black kitty? Stephanie was born in May 2014 and rescued from a backyard in Bethpage her sister, Michelle. Stephanie is so pretty and playful, she would make such an awesome addition to your life! Don’t wait, visit this gorgeous gal at Last Hope Animal Rescue today!

For more information about Buck, Stephanie, and the other great animals at Last Hope Animal Rescue, check out their website at http://lasthopeanimalrescue.org/.

And right next door at the Town of Hempstead Animal Shelter is the handsome and romantic Valentino! This stunning boy is about 5 years old, and couldn’t be more ready to find his forever home. Valentino is a staff and volunteer favorite who is described as a an adorable goofball. He LOVES the water, so anyone out there with a yacht, this guy is for you! Valentino knows his basic commands, is affectionate, and is friendly with all people, and is just a good ‘ole fashion wiggle butt! He gets out for walks and play time with other dogs, and is social and playful. Sometimes he can be a little too playful for some dogs, so a tolerant buddy would be best! He did not test well with cats, so no cat siblings for this dude. If you are interested in this gorgeous pooch, please call the shelter right away at 516-785-5220 for more info! You can also check out their website at http://www.toh.li/animal-shelter. (Thanks Sophie Gamand for the great photo).

Now for current and future pet owners, please read all about how you can keep your pets safe this Halloween, courtesy of PETA Kids. A copy of the original article can be found at http://www.petakids.com/save-animals/spook-free-halloween/?utm_campaign=...

Black Cats Need Extra Love and Attention Around Halloween

Many people are afraid of these cuties because of old myths that claim they’re bad luck. Sounds crazy, right? Because of these silly stories, black cats are the least likely to be adopted from shelters. Pretty sad, huh? In fact, black cats are just as sweet, smart, playful, and curious as other cats—the only difference is the color of fur that they were born with.

Black cats are also a target for Halloween pranksters. Some people hurt or steal them from their homes. Many animal shelters won’t even adopt out black cats during the entire month of October in order to keep them safe. All kitties should live indoors already, but it’s even more important to keep them (and especially black cats) inside around Halloween.

Keep Decorations Away From Curious Noses and Paws

Halloween decorations are great, but they can be very dangerous for animals. Lit jack-o’-lanterns and candles can easily tip over and start a fire or burn the nose or fur of a curious kitty or puppy. Animals can also get tangled up in ribbons, balloons, and streamers, which are not only super-uncomfortable for them but also unsafe. Tangled-up animals often panic and get themselves even more tied up, which can cause them to choke if the decorations are caught around their neck.

Those aren’t the only problems that can occur with Halloween decorations. The ink that’s used in brightly colored party favors, like paper pumpkins, is toxic to animals and can make them very sick. It’s fine to decorate, but remember always to keep animals safe by having your parents hang decorations up high and buy nontoxic party favors.

Candy Is for People, Not Puppies

You know how when you eat too much candy, you sometimes get a stomachache? That’s how cats, dogs, and other animals feel if they eat any candy! All candy (and the wrappers) can cause animals to become sick, and chocolate—which contains an ingredient that’s poisonous to dogs—can even kill them. Want to give your furry best friend a treat this Halloween? Stick to cat or dog treats instead.

LEAVE ANIMALS HOME TO SNUGGLE WHILE YOU COLLECT CANDY

Walking door to door with your family and getting candy from neighbors is a blast, but trick-or-treating isn’t as much fun for animals like dogs and cats. Imagine not knowing what Halloween is and walking down the street to see a crowd of people running around in creepy costumes. It would probably be scary and stressful! Well, that’s how companion animals feel when they go trick-or-treating with their guardians. They’ll be much happier if you keep them safe at home in a room where they won’t get spooked when trick-or-treaters come to visit.

REMEMBER THAT ANIMALS AREN’T DRESS-UP DOLLS

Dogs and cats don’t like dressing up for Halloween the way that kids do. Many animals get really stressed when they’re forced to wear costumes because they’re not used to wearing clothes like humans are. Elastic bands can cut off their circulation and cause them a lot of pain—ouch! Make sure that Halloween is fun for everyone by keeping costumes on kids instead of companion animals.

IT’S UP TO YOU TO MAKE SURE THAT YOUR ANIMAL COMPANION STAYS SAFE THIS HALLOWEEN. DON’T FORGET TO REMIND YOUR FRIENDS THAT BLACK CATS ARE CUTE, NOT SCARY, AND EXPLAIN TO THEM WHY IT’S IMPORTANT TO KEEP ANIMALS AWAY FROM THE TRICK-OR-TREAT SCENE AND HALLOWEEN DECORATIONS.

IF YOU THINK YOUR ANIMAL COMPANION HAS EATEN CANDY OR SOMETHING ELSE THAT COULD BE POISONOUS TO HIM OR HER, ASK YOUR PARENTS TO CONTACT THE PET POISON HELPLINE RIGHT AWAY: 1-800-213-6680.

Thanks so much for reading and please remember to always adopt, never shop!