All the Halloween Fun Without the Scary

Six ways to keep kids and pets safe when the ghouls come knocking.

(An audio voiceover of this post is available below the subtitle.)

“Mommmmmmm!” I yelled in frustration as I surveyed the damage. My beloved stuffed dog, Winston, with his plaid tartan cap and matching scarf, was lying askew on my bedroom floor, missing his nose and the bowl portion of his wooden pipe. The culprit, our family dog, Brandy, ran sheepishly from  my room as black bits of plastic and wood tumbled from her mouth. I wiped the slobber off Winston’s fake fur as tears fell from my eight-year-old eyes. I then propped the pup on the bed with my growing circus of oddities - Giraffy, missing both eyes and an ear, Leppy the leopard, missing a nose and one eye, and Sunny the black lab, missing the buttons from his once-crisp veterinarian coat.

My collection of Brandy’s victims was top of mind when I saw a clown costume at Goodwill. It made me think of all the trouble that can befall pets and kids during Halloween and the holidays ahead. Here are six things to consider to keep them safe.

Costumes

Costumes are often made for short-term use, not durability. That means buttons, patches, pompoms, string, netting, feathers, and so on may be easily removed by the jaws and paws of pets and the fingers and mouths of curious toddlers.

Supervise your pets and kids when costumes are worn inside your home. Curious cats and dogs who appear to be snuggling your ghoulish ghost may be plotting a sneak attack on an unsuspecting bauble. Snap photos then remove costumes. Toddlers and animals can quickly choke when hats and collars get caught on furniture, hooks, and cabinet knobs while they’re playing, jumping, climbing, or running.  

Costumes worn outside should be properly fit to prevent tripping, choking, and breathing difficulties. Reflective strips should be added to ensure they are seen.  

Store costumes out of reach of curious creatures. A secure box or container with a locking lid is much better than a costume hung on a peg or in a closet where a kid or animal can jump to reach it.

Candy

Crinkly paper attracts curious creatures like flies to a bug zapper. My first dog, Snuka, could be roused from deep sleep by the tearing of a potato chip bag. Shredded bits of candy wrapper can clog intestines. Candy contents, like chocolate and xylitol (also known as birch sugar or wood sugar) can be poisonous and cause illness or death in pets. Hard candies can cause choking.

Be sure all candy is secured in cabinets, refrigerators, or in storage containers with a tight lid. Wrappers should be thrown away in lidded garbage containers. My friends had to wrap a towing strap around their refrigerator to keep their dog from mauling its contents!

Strobe Lights and Loud Noises

You may enjoy all the spooky of Halloween, but your kids and pets may not. Canines, felines, and young children may react negatively to flashing lights, loud noises, and  fireworks. The need to escape may be so great, they might not think where they are going before they run to hide.

It may be wise to keep a young child on a toddler leash and wearing noise-cancelling headphones if you have to bring them with you. Otherwise, stay home.

Reactive pets should be kept at home no matter how cute they look in their costumes. Put them in a safe, enclosed space, like a bedroom or an out-of-the-way bathroom. Be sure there is comfortable bedding, a litter box for a cat, water, and food. Add a note attached to the door to prevent people from entering or instruct them to ask for assistance before using.

Open Doors

Frightened pets may run past feet through open doors. Prevent frantic escapes when guests come knocking by placing a pet in a  safe room during busy door times. It may even be wise to microchip your pet before the holidays.

Candles

My number one wish for all people with pets and young kids is to stop burning candles. Not long ago, a friend’s dog running through the house bumped a candle. Thankfully the friend was close by and witnessed the event. She was able to smother the flames before more damage was caused than a scorched floor.

Another friend’s cat jumped to a screened window to sit on the sill. As it did, the curtain caught fire from the candle on a side table. That friend was able to smother the flame before it reached her baby’s crib.

Am I an alarmist about candles? My kids would say so. I come by it honestly. My father was an insurance agent who dealt with many home fires and loss of life. Please don’t take chances. There are many LED alternatives to illuminate pumpkins and to add spooky to the night.

Resources

Poison Help provides national access in the U.S. 800-222-1222. Be sure to gather all information and evidence of poisoning such as bottles, packages, and labels to provide to a medical team.

If your veterinarian or an emergency care provider is not available to help your pet, call ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center, 888-426-4435, or  The Pet Poison Helpline, 855-764-7661. They both operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. (Be prepared. An incident  fee may be charged.)

If your pet escapes, step one includes three parts: don’t panic, don’t chase, don’t call the name of the lost pet. Step two is to learn quickly what actions to take to improve your chances of successfully finding your pet. Scared animals behave differently than when they are comfortable at home.

1.       Read pet recovery suggestions  written by an experience pet recovery expert such as 3retrievers, The Retrievers, and Missing Animal Response Network  

2.       Enlist the help of a volunteer or paid retriever and/or pet tracker. Each of the websites above include resources to find and vet dependable individuals or organizations. Be aware of scammers!

3.       Enlist the help of your friends and family to create a visible marketing campaign that lets those around you know what’s going on. Put up posters, hand out flyers, and tag cars. Educate others to not panic, to not chase, and to not call the name of the pet.

Choose Offense and Defense

Remember to take the extra steps to create a secure environment for both kids and pets. Whether it’s safeguarding candy from curious paws or ensuring costumes are comfy and safe, every precaution helps prevent potential mishaps. With a little planning, awareness, and resources at hand for help should you need them, you can ensure that the spookiest time of the year is also the safest.

Halloween Fun

Q: When is it bad luck to be followed by a black cat?

A: When you’re a mouse.

Q: What position does a ghost play in soccer?

A: Ghoul-keeper

Q: Why wouldn’t the ghost dance at the party?

A: He had no body to dance with him.

Happy Halloween!

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