Howl-o-ween tips and tricks

Halloween is our favorite time of year at the shelter. We put out every decoration we can find, help Haunted Overload in Lee, N.H., present one of the most original Halloween attractions in the country, and enjoy any excuse to scarf down candy. Although we are enjoying the thrills and chills that come with the Halloween season, our four-legged best friends might not be having as much fun. Below are the two most common hazards of Halloween and ways you can keep your pets safe and happy.

Costumes: Yes, I have dressed my dog in Halloween costumes. To be fair, though, my short haired dachshund prefers to be bundled in a sweater anytime the temperature dips below 80 degrees, so a Halloween costume is just like any other outfit to her. My other dog, however, would never stoop so low as to wear clothing, and dressing her in a costume would be the equivalent of torture. The point is: every dog is different, and the biggest mistake we can make as pet owners is to treat them all the same when it comes to costumes. If you plan on playing dress up with Fido this year, remember the following:

- A costume should never restrict your pet's movement or impair their vision.

- Make sure your pet's costume does not contain any dangly pieces or embellishments that your dog might chew on or ingest.

- Never leave your pet unsupervised while they are in a costume - they may become tangled in the clothes, especially if they're trying to get out of them

- Do a trial run with your pet to see if they're comfortable with their costume. If they're not happy, do not force your pet to dress up. Consider getting your pet a festive collar or bandana to wear instead!

Trick-or-Treat: We all know that chocolate is bad for animals, but there are other dangers to beware of when it comes to Halloween besides Fido getting into the candy stash. Before trick-or-treaters begin arriving at your house, make sure your pet is wearing proper identification. With the constant opening and closing of your door, and the chaos that often comes with a crowd of children, it's very easy for your pet to slip past you and get outside.

Pets may also be frightened by all the costumes. At the shelter, it's not uncommon for the dogs to be scared of someone wearing a baseball hat, so it's likely they'll have a similar reaction to someone wearing a Halloween mask. Dogs that are scared may run away or react aggressively. If you have a doorbell, the repetitive ringing may also put your dog on high alert for the entire evening. For the safety of your pet, consider shutting them into a room while the trick-or-treaters are coming and going.

Halloween doesn't have to be a scary. By taking just a few precautions, you can have a fun and safe holiday with your pets!

Alaina Goodnough is the Promotions Coordinator at Cocheco Valley Humane Society in Dover, NH. She lives in Sanford, ME with two parrots, two cats, a bearded dragon, and two dachshunds. She can be reached at CVHS at devassist@cvhsonline.org. To learn more about Cocheco Valley Humane Society, go to www.cvhsonline.org or call 603-749-5322