Halloween No Treat For Stressed-Out Pets, So Here Are Some Tips To Keep Them Calm

PFLUGERVILLE, TX -- For pets, Halloween is no treat. And we're not just talking about owners who dress their pets up in costumes without the animals' consent. It's a stressful day for pets what with the unfamiliar sounds and faces they encounter on this day, not to mention the incessant ringing of the doorbell by eager trick-or-treaters.

The Pflugerville Animal Shelter offers some handy Halloween safety tips for pet owners to ameliorate the stress they encounter on a spooky day made exponentially spookier to pets not accustomed to cacophony in their daily routine.

Among the tips animal shelter officials offer:

• Make sure your pet has a collar on with your contact information and rabies tag. A current micro-chip is best.
• Consider confining your pet in a section of the house away from the Halloween activities.
• Take pictures of your pet so you have them if your pet does escape to identify your pet quicker.
• Do not take your pet trick-or-treating as it can cause additional stress with running children and many people on the sidewalks. If you do take your pet with you, use a leash and have your pet with a flashing light collar or leash.
• Put the candy in a secure place. Chocolate and candy is bad for a dog!
• Don't let pets chew on glow in the dark items as they contain a chemical that is toxic for pets.

Some Halloween traditions are not pet-friendly. Keep all cats indoors. Additional tips from the Pflugerville Animal Shelter are online.

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