Watch out!

They'll be haunting the streets tonight!

Stay alert when driving, and keep an eye out for their safety, all through the night. It's a time for creative fun and laughter, but also for keeping all the little ghouls and goblins bright-eyed.

Unfortunately, hazards do lurk. Children (and pets) don't usually think to watch out for them. It's up to all of us to make sure the little kids stay safe and have fun.

Here's to a happy and healthy Halloween for all! 

IMAGE: Many thanks to the Pinterest page, 1000+ Toddler Halloween Costumes! Check that page out, if you're up for creativity and cute little kids--they have scads of both.

Countdown to Halloween Pet Safety #1

Death by Chocolate--and other lurking pet-poisons

What hazards lurk in the treat basket?

One of the biggest hazards to your pet at Halloween is the treat basket by the door. Chocolate is a major no-no (causes heart and nervous system damage), the artificial sweetener Xylitol is poison to your pet (liver failure hazard), and even that "healthy" box of raisins could cause kidney failure.

Here are the top "Dog DON'Ts"

Cat "DOs" and "DON'Ts"

Keep the human treats for the human trick-or-treaters. Fix your own, or invest in some pet-appropriate treats for you beloved furry companions. 

More appropriate dog treats--recipes available from Cesar's Way.

Petfinder offers recipes for both cats and dogs.

And HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

IMAGES: the spilled bucket of Halloween treats photo is from Fabulously Frugal. Many thanks also to Animal General for the great poster of foods that are dangerous for dogs, and to Kara's Critter Care, for the handy "Cat DOs and DON'Ts" chart. Thanks to Cesar's Way for the photo of the bowl of dog treats (along with some homemade treat recipes to try), and to Petfinder for the image of treats for both dogs and cats (plus more recipes).

Countdown to Halloween Pet Safety #2

Avoid the Lost Pet Apocalypse
One Halloween tradition that can terrorize your pet is the dreaded night-stalking trick-or-treater. Even normally level-headed pets can get weirded out by all the strange, and strange-looking, humans appearing at your door. Cats and dogs are equally at risk for bolting out into the night.

Especially if your pet normally hides from visitors, make sure he or she is in a secure, safe place far from trick-or-treat "invaders."

How can you tell if your dog is afraid? Here are some body-language cues. Watch for them!

Even normally-gregarious creatures can get freaked out by large groups of strangers. It's usually best--both for the pets and for trick-or-treating children who may not be used to animals--if your animals are secured somewhere far from the door on Halloween.

Goes equally for other pets! Halloween night is a particularly bad time for an animal to be lost, because sometimes pranksters can be cruel.

The Top of Ohio Pet Shelter has posted a list of preventive measures you can take to protect your pet before s/he gets lost. Have you done all of these things for your best friend? If not, now's a great time to do them!

You do NOT want your pet portrayed on a wall like this! But make sure you have photos in case s/he does get lost.

#1 Take pictures! 
Think "mug shots," here. Take images from front and side(s), and any identifying marks, tattoos, or other characteristics that could be used to identify your pet on sight. Should the worst happen, you'll be prepared to create posters, post on Facebook, etc.

A microchip can make the difference between losing your pet forever and getting him or her safely back home. 

#2 Microchip your pet!
It's quick, almost painless, and getting less expensive the more people do this. It also is an extremely good way to make sure your pet can be identified.

Yes, it's a "cat scan." Microchipping is safe, and all vets and shelters now routinely scan lost pets for them.

#3 License your Pet 
It's the law in most places, anyway--and another form of identification, should your pet become lost. An ID tag on the collar is another good idea.

"Critterbling" on Etsy offers a cute ID tag--the other side can be engraved.

IMAGES: Many thanks to Pet Cat Health for the photo of the cat in hiding, and to the ASPCA for the quick photo-pictorial on frightened-dog body language. The "Please don't let the Cat out" sign is from Scalawags Online, the pano-shot of the lost-pet posters is from The Humane Society of South Mississippi, the comparison of the dog microchip and the grain of rice is from the My Mini-Doxie website (devoted to Miniature Dachshunds). The "cat scan" photo is courtesy of Vet Co (New Mexico), and the clever "Have your people call my people" ID tag is from Critterbling, on Etsy.