By Toni Kelley

The witching hour of Halloween will soon be upon us, bringing haunted houses, jack o lanterns, tricks and treats, ghouls and ghosts and all things scary that go bump in the night. Everyone from the youngest child to the adult who is a child at heart enjoys this festive time of year. Our furry family members however, may not be as comfortable with the strange and unusual sights and sounds Halloween brings, so here are a few tips to your furry friends safe and happy during this wickedly fun holiday.

Keep your pets in a quiet area of the home.

Pets are loyal and naturally protective of their homes and their owners. Halloween brings unusual sights and sounds that may frighten or agitate your pet. In addition, while we know that the witches and goblins knocking on our door are all in fun, our pets do not understand. Finally, a door that is constantly being open is a prime opportunity for a stealth escape. With all the commotion of constant visitors, a dog or cat may seize the chance to escape these frightening times without anyone being the wiser.

Keep all flames such as candles out of the reach of your pet.

Animals are very curious, cats especially, and this trait can lead to singed fur or worse yet, serious burns. It is also a possibility that your curious furry friend could accidentally knock over a candle or jack o lantern and inadvertently cause a fire.

Keep candy away from your pet.

While a sweet treat may sound good, it can be quite harmful to your pet. Chocolate is highly toxic to animals and should be kept out of reach. Discarded candy wrappers can also be a hazard as pets may swallow them and begin to choke. Keeping a bucket of your pet's favorite treats will help your pet stay safe as well as enjoy his own holiday treat.

Don't allow your children to take your pets along while trick or treating.

Children have a hard enough time holding onto their candy bags or buckets and adding a leash to the mix could result in a lost pet. In addition, as stated earlier, the sights and sounds of Halloween can be quite frightening for your pet and their reaction to the costumed trick or treater's could be an unpleasant one.

Keep all decorations out of pets reach.

Fun things like streamers, spider webs, electric lights and cords can sometimes become an enticing chew toy for pets. This unfortunately can lead to serious illness, electrocution or even death.

Keep cats indoors.

A few days before Halloween as well as the day of, has been shown throughout history to be a major downfall for cats and dogs. Even in today's more animal conscious society, there are those who may believe that animal torture in the spirit of the holiday is deemed acceptable. Please report any suspicious behavior and keep your pets inside where you know they will be safe.

Don't force your pet to wear a costume.

While they may look cute, some animals do not like the feeling of being confined, especially if a mask obstructs their view. This situation can be very frightening and a pet's natural instinct is to protect itself. In addition, pets may chew on buttons or other dangling pieces of material which can cause choking or intestinal obstructions. It is also possible for a pet trying to get out of a costume to inadvertently suffocate. Costumes are best left for the enjoyment of children and adults.

Halloween is a fun and festive time of year and it is meant to be enjoyed by all. As we take extra care this Halloween season to keep our children safe, let's also remember to ensure the safety of our loving furry family members as well. A healthy and safe pet is a Happy pet.

Happy Halloween!

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About the author

Toni Kelley resides in a small town in southern Lower Michigan where she lives with her husband, three children, six dogs and three cats.

As a freelance writer, her work has been featured in Dexter Magazine, STYLE Magazine, Art Nouveau Magazine, and many others. Since 2005, she has authored a bi-weekly column in her local newspaper entitled Pet Corner.

In addition to her writing, she is also a dedicated editor for When Magazine, Eternal Press Publishing and Creative Media Alliance. Her passion for animals is the key element that keeps her active in local animal awareness.