10
Wednesday, October 25, 2017 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
Paw
Prints
Jodi Schneider McNamee
Columnist
Make Halloween
safe for your pets
Halloween can be loads of
fun for kids and adults. And
as spooky little monsters,
ghosts and ghouls begin their
trick-or-treating, it can be
the scariest night of the year,
especially for your pets.
For all the fun Hallow-
een offers for kids, it can be
unsettling and even danger-
ous for pets. But here are
some common-sense precau-
tions to keep in mind for your
furry friend’s safety this year.
Not only will your door
be constantly opening and
closing on Halloween, but
all those ghoulish costumed
humans intending to look
scary that come to your door
may actually be frightening
to your four-legged fam-
ily member. Your dog or cat
doesn’t understand why so
many creepy creatures are
heading to their home full
of energy and yelling out for
candy!
Pets are instinctively pro-
tective of their home and can
get freaked out when kids are
disguised in costumes. And
it’s a prime time when dogs
and cats can get out of their
house with all the restless
anxious energy that they feel
around Halloween time.
It’s enough to make dogs
and cats go running — some-
times right out the door. Hal-
loween is a prime time when
Rover and Kitty can get out Keep your beloved pet out of the Halloween candy. It can be toxic.
of their homes.
Always make sure your by 12 percent during the hidden treasure. Contact
dog or cat has proper identifi- week of Halloween.
your veterinarian right away
cation. If for any reason your
Most of the calls involve if your pooch gets into the
pet escapes and becomes lost, pets accidently ingesting candy, especially if it con-
a collar and tags can be a life- candy. Any candy is bad tains chocolate or is sugar-
saver, increasing the chances enough, but chocolate is one free and contains xylitol.
that he will be returned to you. of the most toxic to pets.
If you do decide to dress
And because dogs are pro- Dogs are especially attracted your pet in a costume this
tective of their home, they to the smell of chocolate, year make sure it isn’t annoy-
can also get anxious and making it a significant threat. ing or unsafe. Pet Hallow-
growl when they see kids are
Other candy treats that een costumes can be cute
in costumes.
contain plastic sticks, like lol- and festive, but you’ll want
Because dogs and cats lipops, can be harmful, even to be certain that they don’t
may do unpredictable things deadly, if swallowed by your have small parts which pose
when they’re scared, please furry friend. Cellophane and a choking hazard or impair
keep them tucked away in a foil wrappers also are poten- your pets breathing or hear-
quiet and safe room on Hal- tial hazards that could get ing. And pets that do not
loween. Even if your furry gulped down along with the like wearing a costume can
friends are used to being out- Halloween candy.
become quite stressed in the
doors, keep them indoors on
Kids love to stash candy effort to remove it. Also, be
Halloween night.
in their rooms, and a dog’s aware of elastic and other
Calls to the veterinarian at keen sense of smell will lead costume fasteners that can
Pet Poison Helpline increase him to even the most cleverly become caught on your pet.
PHOTO BY JODI SCHNEIDER MCNAMEE
Brightly lit Jack o’ Lan-
terns are wonderful to look
at and very tempting for your
pet to notice too. It’s the same
with candles in the window
— very dangerous to a kitten
or puppy that’s drawn to the
flame. Not to mention how a
knocked-over carved pump-
kin with a lit candle inside
could be a fire hazard!
Don’t wait to have your
pet treated in the case of an
emergency. Locate a 24-hour
veterinary clinic if your fam-
ily vet is not available.
Do not hesitate to con-
tact the 24-hour Pet Poison
Helpline immediately at
1-888-426-4435 if you sus-
pect that your furry friend has
ingested something or might
be injured.
It’s a Sisters Furry Friends
HOWL-O-WEEN!
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27
5 to 7:30 p.m.
Fundraising fun at The Nugget Newspaper
er
442 E. Main Ave.
$ 10
-
5
ALL
$
ndation
Friends Fou
y
rr
Fu
to
s
e
100% go
GET A JUMP ON YOUR
HOLIDAY SHOPPING AND
SUPPORT FURRY FRIENDS!
CUTE DOG
HALLOWEEN
COSTUMES
Local vendors (donating up to
20% of purchases to Furry Friends
Foundation) will be on hand
with jewelry, bags & purses,
makeup, leggings and more!
Superheros, dresses,
bugs, and more! Many
for small dogs, a few
medium and large, too.
FURRY FRIEND S
501 ( c )( 3 )
FOUNDATION
541-549-9941
FurryFriendsFoundation.org
Personalized photo
pendants
funky charms, inspirati
onal jewelr y
... vintage styles at afford
able prices!
E WI LL
SOMEON
ROE
WIN LULA
GINGS!
G
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T
A
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TC