Halloween is a fun and exciting time for children of all ages. But it can be frightening, and even dangerous, for family pets.

If you and your dog are at home greeting trick-or-treaters, the strange sights and sounds may create some anxiety. The pet care experts at Best Friends Pet Resorts encourage all pet owners to take a few precautions to keep the family dog and cat safe and happy during the Halloween festivities.

• Keep your dog on a leash and use a happy tone of voice when answering the door.
• Ask the visitors to hand your dog a biscuit, so he learns not to fear the situation.
• If your pet is still frightened, consider keeping him in another room, away from the activity.

Halloween Pet Safety Tips
Many seemingly benign holiday traditions - from candles to candy - can pose a threat to pets:

• Make sure that your pet does not have easy access to Halloween decorations, especially pumpkins with burning candles and battery-operated devices.
• Keep small costume pieces and accessories away from pets. They can also pose gastrointestinal or choking hazards.
• Put Halloween candy - especially chocolate - out of reach. One ounce of chocolate can be fatal for a small dog (under 10 lbs.). Like other poisons, chocolate poison requires emergency medical treatment. Be sure to have plenty of healthy treats on hand, so Fido won't feel left out when everyone else is indulging.
• Never leave your pet outside unattended on Halloween or they can become the victims of Halloween pranksters. Black cats, in particular, are at risk for dangerous tricks.

To Costume or Not?
The decision about whether to dress your pet in costume and take him trick-or-treating really depends upon your pet. If he is easily agitated by strangers or frightened by strange sights and sounds, he's better off at home. On the other hand, if your pet is the curious type and loves dressing up, you may want to include him in the fun.

In choosing a costume, be sure that it doesn't restrict your pet's movement in any way, or cover his eyes. Also keep in mind that your dog will need to relieve himself after wearing the costume for a long period. Best Friends carries a range of pet-safe Halloween costumes. Check the Our Centers page for the Best Friends Pet Resort nearest you.

Introduce his costume a few days of ahead of time, putting on one piece at a time. Make a fuss over how great he looks, and allow him to get accustomed to wearing it at home before the big day.

With a little care and planning, pets and people can have a howling good time together on Halloween.