It's about time for the annual visitation by all those little
neighborhood ghosts and goblins, not to mention the ninja turtles and
princesses.
It's always such fun.
But if we are pet owner's, we have
the responsibility of keeping our pets safe and the visiting children and their
families safe too.
Remember, some children are
frightened by even small dogs and cats. And worse yet, some are so comfortable
with them that they may rapidly approach your pet and startle it into a
reactive self-defense snap or scratch!
So, what should you do?
1. Put your dog on a leash before
answering the door. That way you can control it and prevent it from going out
the door. Some dogs, if they are too rambunctious, will need to be
put in a crate for the evening.
2. Unless your cat is very social
with strangers, you may want to lock it in a bedroom or utility room to keep it
safe and calm. Social cats need to be on a leash so they don't run out the
door.
3. Don't let your pet get close to
other people's children. Unexpected things can happen very quickly. Safety
first, always!
4. Dogs LOVE candy. Given the
opportunity, they'll steal what they can. Chocolate can be toxic to dogs if
enough is eaten, and can cause fatalities. Just sugar in candy can cause a
toxic reaction if enough is consumed. So guard your supply and your children's
collections.
Halloween is a great time for kids
and pets, but let's keep both safe!
-Dr. Keith Joyner
-Dr. Keith Joyner
