Don’t let your pets fall under a spooky spell this Halloween 

With Halloween approaching, households across the country are planning costumes, stocking up on candy and decking their homes with cobwebs, ghosts and Jack-o’-lanterns. While the holiday is fun for kids and adults, it can bring real risks for pets.

From constant doorbell rings to tempting chocolate stashes, October 31 can turn into a real scare for dogs and cats.

To help make Halloween safe and stress-free for pet owners, Best Friends Animal Society, a leading national animal welfare organization working to end the killing of dogs and cats in America’s shelter, is sharing tips to keep furry friends protected this spooky season:

• Beware of Door Dashers: Trick-or-treat traffic can frighten pets and send them bolting for the door. To avoid accidental escapes, keep dogs and cats in a quiet, secure room during peak trick or treat hours. If your pet does get out, a GPS collar can help bring them home safely.
• Candy Catastrophe: Popular Halloween sweets like chocolate, raisins, and xylitol (a common artificial sweetener) are all toxic to pets. Keep the candy cauldron out of reach and serve up pet-safe treats like pumpkin or sweet potato.
• Pumpkin Precautions: Lit pumpkins may help set the mood, but a curious paw can turn them into a fire hazard, go with a flameless candle for a safe spooky glow instead.
• Costume Caution: A too-tight or dangly costume can be a real nightmare. If your pet isn’t a fan of dress up, opt for a festive bandana or collar instead.

No tricks, just the sweetest treat: adopt a pet in need. According to Best Friends’ data, if just 6% of people adding a pet to their home chose to adopt instead of purchase a pet from a pet store or breeder, the country could become no-kill. Now that’s a magic spell worth casting!

To find adoptable pets near you, or learn more about how you can help, visit bestfriends.org