No Scaredy Cats or Dogs This Halloween: Safety Tips for Pet Parents

Attention, animal lovers, it's almost the spookiest night of the year! The ASPCA recommends taking some common sense precautions this Halloween to keep you both safe and happy!

• No tricks, no treats: That bowl of candy is for trick-or-treaters, not for Scruffy and Fluffy. Chocolate in all forms—especially dark or baking chocolate—can be very dangerous for dogs and cats. Candies containing the artificial sweetener xylitol can also cause problems.

• Be careful with if you choose to add a candle to a carved pumpkin. Pets can easily knock a lit pumpkin over and cause a fire. Curious kittens especially run the risk of getting burned or singed by candle flames.

• Don't put your dog or cat in a costume UNLESS you know he or she loves it (yup, a few pets are real hams!), wearing a costume may cause undue stress.

• If you do dress up your pet, make sure the costume isn't annoying or unsafe. Be sure to try on costumes before the big night, and if your pet seems distressed, consider letting him go au naturale or donning a festive bandana instead.

• Make sure your pet’s costume doesn't have small, dangling or easily chewed-off pieces that he could choke on.

• Keep pets in a separate room away from the front door during peak trick-or-treating hours. Too many strangers can be scary and stressful.

• Always make sure your dog or cat has proper identification. If for any reason your pet escapes and becomes lost, a collar and tags and/or a microchip can be a lifesaver, increasing the chances that he or she will be returned to you.