Follow these tips to help keep your pets safe during Halloween
Halloween is a great time to for humans to celebrate and dress up, but it might not be a treat for your furry friends.
El Paso Animal Services is offering pet owners tips to help keep four-legged family members safe during the fun.
- ID your pets: With all the doorbell rings, opening doors and spooky guests, pets might try to make a break for the outdoors. Make sure pets have collars and up-to-date ID tags. Their microchip information should be current to help them get back home in case they are found wandering the streets.
- Create a safe space: All the Halloween excess can be overwhelming for pets, so set up a quiet room away from the commotion to reduce stress and keep them safe. Be sure to include their favorite toys.
- Keep candy out of reach: People might love them, but chocolate and sugar-free candies are toxic to pets, plus candy wrappers can be choking hazards. Pets love to sneak treats, so be extra careful and be sure to keep all human treats safely out of your pets’ reach.
- Costume comfort: Your pooch or cat might look adorable in a costume perfect for social media, but if your pet isn’t comfortable wearing one, don’t force them into one. Instead, keep it simple, such as by using a Halloween-themed bandanna. If you do put your pet in a costume, make sure it’s safe, nonrestrictive and lets them move freely.
- Watch the decorations: Keep candles, lit pumpkins and electrical cords away from curious pets. Chewing or knocking over decorations could result in injuries, burns or electrical shock.
- Be seen on walks: If you take your pet trick-or-treating, use reflective collars, leashes and lights.
- Know your pet: Some pets can get stressed out or anxious with all the Halloween excitement. If your pet ends up struggling, consult a veterinarian for calming solutions or products.
If your pet manages to slip out the door or runs off while on a walk, visit the El Paso Animal Services Center at 5001 Fred Wilson Ave. as soon as possible.
For resources and to file a lost or found pet report in El Paso, visit ElPasoAnimalServices.org/LostPetResources or ElPasoAnimalServices.org/FoundPetResources.
