Furocious
Dear FUROCIOUS followers,
As we head into another Halloween, spirits are high, children are squealing, candy is flying and costumes are taking center stage. If you’re not ‘decorating’ your dog with a costume, chances are, you’re too busy to think about Fido’s safety, but Halloween can be a treacherous time for dogs AND cats. Here are a few tips to keep in mind so the holiday is safe for everyone, including your four legged furries:
- Doorbells can be problematic to most pets; have a plan. We take our dogs, Dugan and Barclay, on the front porch with us. When children approach, the dogs wiggle and waggle and we allow the kids to pet them for an ‘extra’ treat – and no barking or aggression occurs. However, even the most social of animals can feel threatened, and maybe even snap, at a costumed trick-or-treater. If you can’t take them outside with you, it might be easier to put them in a quiet room, with food, water, litter box for kitties, or crate them, and wait until the door knocking and ringing is over.
- Candy in any amount is lethal to dog and cats. Do NOT leave your candy unattended or within reach of any dog or cat. Period. If you think your pet has eaten any candy at all, call your vet immediately or dial the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435. Ingested wrappers can get lodged into your pet’s intestines and either cause them to be ill, die or have a costly and unnecessary surgery.
- Do NOT leave your cats out, particularly if you own a black cat. There are crazy people out there who are very happy to steal your dog and kill it as part of a cult ritual. It happens nearly every year, in towns all across the country. Don’t be lazy – MAKE SURE YOUR PETS ARE IN THE HOUSE.
- Before leaving the house, make sure your pet has an ID tag. Dogs and cats under stress may attempt to flee and in doing so, escape even the most well-intentioned home. If the animal is not micro-chipped, make sure there is a collar and ID tag on them.
- Lastly, animals are unpredictable and if you have lighted candles or Jack-O-Lanterns around, be aware that your cat could spring into action and knock it over or your dog, in its exuberance, could wag too hard and send a candle flying. Caution is key – and so is proximity access.
Happy Hallowee from FUROCIOUS! High-paw and happy treats!
Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on 10/31/11 at 01:30 PM
