With Halloween approaching here in the Utica/Rome upstate NY area, it is best to think about keeping your pets safe. Very few pets truly enjoy the craziness of trick or treaters coming to the door all night or people in strange costumes. Even a steady dog may start barking somewhat uncontrollably or hiding. Worse yet, a frightened dog may nip a person in a costume out of fear.
Often pets will escape by slipping out when the door is opened to trick or treaters. You may not even miss your small dog or cat right away in all the confusion. With all the activity, your pet may become even more frightened and take off or hide and not respond if you call.
Many communities in the Utica/Rome area do Halloween activities at school or community centers to decrease the number of trick or treaters and pranksters. For example, the Westmoreland School District does a PTO Trick or Treat night this Friday at the Elementary School off Rt. 233. Still, you can expect some trick or treaters or pranksters, especially if you live a subdivision.
The ideal solution is to have your pet safely shut away in a quiet place. A finished basement room would keep your cats and dogs away from the bustle and be quiet as well. If your dog is still likely to get overexcited, set him up in his crate with a special chew. Most cats will happily stay in the quiet spot but if your cat tends to be social, you may want to set up a crate for him too.
An indoor/outdoor cat should be safely kept inside for a day or two before and after the Halloween festivities. Sadly, some people still have superstitions about cats; especially black cats. You don't want your cat to be hurt in any way. If your pet does get out, contact the Humane Society of Rome and the Stevens Swan Humane Society immediately.
Another way to help keep your dog calm is to use Canine Calm from Earthheart, Inc. This should "take the edge off" your dog. Vicki Thorne, the master herbalist and certified aromatherapist, says this, "Canine Calm is formulated with all natural ingredients, including pure essential oils, such as lavender, tangerine and geranium that have been traditionally used in remedies for relaxation. Canine Calm is made in the USA and packaged in a BPA free spray bottle. The ready to use spray is easy to use, won’t stain or leave a sticky residue on materials or fur, and can safely be sprayed and rubbed onto the dog’s ear tips and abdomen, or directly onto bedding or clothing and inside the car or travel crate. Canine Calm is a family friendly product, and is safely diluted for use with puppies as young as eight weeks old."
If your pet truly goes into hyperdrive, ask your veterinarian for possible anti-anxiety medications. Remember, do not use dog medications for your cat!
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