Halloween can be a fun time of year for families with pets. There are parties, dog walks, costume contests, and more. Whatever you choose to participate in, it’s a good idea to make plans for your furkid before you head out. We’ve compiled a few Halloween safety tips for pet parents to keep you and your pet safe this time of year.
Avoid Trick-or-Treating
While it may sound like fun, this time of year can be very scary for our pets. Walking around the neighborhood and seeing large crowds of unrecognizable people in costumes can be daunting. Large decorations that flail in the wind and play spooky Halloween music can be terrifying to a pet. By taking them out on Hallows Eve, door to door, you risk your pet getting startled and potentially running away amid all the commotion. Our owner, Brooke, loves to trick-or-treat in Cane Island. She often sees pets participating in and out of costume. Like most pet pros, Brooke worries that the pets often reach their limit long before their humans call it a night.
Manage Interactions with Candy & Kids
You and your kids, if you have them, will likely spend some time looking through your Halloween candy on the coffee table. There are lots of crinkly wrappers that attract the attention of the four leggeds in the house. Surely one piece won’t hurt them, right? Wrong. Candy is too high in sugar, full of artificial colors, and may contain xylitol and chocolate to name only a few of the most dangerous ingredients. Do not take the risk. It’s just not worth it. It’s best to limit sharing between humans when it comes to Halloween treats. Kids will certainly be extra excited on Halloween night therefore it’s important to manage their interactions with your pets to ensure that they aren’t feeding your pets anything dangerous or scaring them with their costumes. Pets that are spooked can bite or scratch therefore paying close attention to kids and pets on busy and festive occasions is always a good idea. 
Keep It Pet-Friendly
If you are participating in a Halloween-themed event, check ahead of time and make sure pets are allowed before bringing them. If you have plans to go to a party or other Halloween event this year, don’t assume it’s ok to bring your pet. Not all events are safe for pets and not all hosts or hostesses, even if they’re pet lovers, want pets at their parties.
Consider Your Pet’s Preferences
Events that invite you to bring your pet can be fun! But, is your pet a good fit for a large group activity? Some people are under the impression that all pets are social. Unfortunately, that is not the case. Many pets are social butterflies and adjust well to new surroundings. They may be happy anywhere and around any number of people, even people in costume. Then, there are those pets that are more reserved and don’t do well in social or unfamiliar situations. In some cases, you may have a senior pet who used to love going to these events in their younger days but now would prefer to remain in the comfort of their home while you and your family take part in the festivities. Just because your pet loved parades in the past doesn’t mean they always will. 
Individualize The Experience
With pet safety tips, it’s important to remember that all pets are different and all situations require personalized consideration. What works for one pet may not work for another of the same age and breed. You know your pet best and only you can decide what is best for them. We recommend that no matter the holiday at hand, you plan to personalize the fun so that you may include your pet(s) in a way that makes them feel loved and, most importantly, safe.
Speaking of individualizing experiences, our team of professional dog walkers and pet sitters strives to personalize our pet care to ensure that every pet that we visit gets exactly what they need. To learn more about our services, contact us at info@animaladmiration.com or call us at (281) 391-1015. Our service areas include Katy, Fulshear, and more. We wish you and your families a happy and safe Halloween!
We hope following our Halloween safety tips for pet parents makes this year one to remember!
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