Published: October 24, 2009 11:47 pm      

Don't forget about your pets on Halloween

Pet Talk column

Leaving your pets outside on Halloween is not a good idea. There are plenty of tales of malicious people who tease, injure, steal, torture and even kill pets on Halloween. Not to mention that dogs and cats can scare easily with all the trick-or-treaters coming to your house. Here are some tips to keep your pets safe on Halloween:

• As much as your dog or cat may beg for some of your Halloween candy, always remember that chocolate can be deadly to them in any amount.

• Candy wrappers such as tin foil, can get stuck in your pets digestive tract and make them ill or cause death. 

• Dogs can have lethal tails, wagging all over the place.  Don’t leave any lighted candles or Jack-O-Lanterns where they could be knocked over by a swinging tail or by a curious cat.  Not only could your pet start a fire, they could injure themselves in the process.

• Just because you think a Halloween costume for your pet is cute doesn’t mean that they will enjoy wearing it.  Try it on them in advance and see how they react.  They will be under enough stress with the festivities so don’t cause them any more nervousness than you have to.

• Be careful your pet doesn’t dart out through the open door as you hand out candy.

Pets have no idea what Halloween is and they can be easily frightened.  Be sympathetic and treat them like you would want to be treated if you were them.

Information provided by Morton Small Animal Clinic in Athens, 903-675-5708.

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ADOPT A PET

Here is a list of this week’s featured pets at BARC, The Humane Society:

• Dodger — 2-year-old male Shepherd mix

• Missy May — 1-year-old female poodle mix

• Princess — 2-month-old female domestic medium-hair

• Sylvester — 6-year-old domestic short-hair

Don’t forget — If you adopt a dog by Oct. 31, you can get them at a discounted price — $45 — due to National Adopt-a-Dog Month!

These and other animals are ready for adoption at BARC, The Humane Society, 335 Armory Rd., Palestine. You may visit them online at www.achs.petfinder.com and www.barctx.org. Telephone 903-729-8074 for information. Hours are Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The shelter is closed on Wednesdays and Sundays.