You might enjoy getting a bit ‘scared’ on Halloween, but it’s a different story for your pets. On Halloween eve, a constant stream of visitors to your front door and lots of street noises can be very unsettling to your cats and dogs. Not every pet is like Caju, a very affable cat who seems to relish in greeting Halloween trick or treaters.

The Peninsula Humane Society & SPCA in San Mateo, Calif., offers a number of tips to keep pets safe and calm Halloween.

Keep Pets Indoors
Dogs left in the backyard can scale a fence or dig under it when frightened. Festive noises and scary costumes can be terrifying for pets or, at the very least, cause them to explore. Turn on the TV or play a soothing music CD to drown out background noise to help keep your pet calm.

If you plan to pass out treats, keep your pet secure in another part of your house behind a closed door. This will ensure your pet does not escape out the front door and will avoid unnecessary interaction with frightening ghouls and goblins.

Be sure your pet’s ID tags are current and that they are wearing them should they escape despite your best efforts.

Hide Harmful Treats
Stash the big bag of candy out of reach since it can be harmful to pets. Take particular precaution with chocolate, as it is toxic for both dogs and cats. Also tin foil and cellophane candy wrappers can be a choking hazard if ingested or cause intestinal blockage.

Decorate With Care
Use caution when decorating; keep décor off the floor and placed high. Use fake cobwebs sparingly, if at all. Both pets and wildlife, especially small birds can easily become entangled or ingest the webbing.

Popular Halloween plants such as pumpkins and decorative corn are considered to be relatively nontoxic, yet they can produce gastrointestinal upset if pets ingest them. Intestinal blockage could even occur if your pets swallow large pieces.

Dressing Up Your Pet
Most pets dislike the confinement of costumes and masks, and they can sustain injuries if hampered in their movements. If you do plan to dress up your pet consider three important rules: comfort, practice and supervision. Choose a simple costume and have your pet practice wearing the get-up a few times before Halloween. If your pet seems stressed by the costume then have compassion and find a simpler alternative like a colorful bandana around the collar. Remember to use plenty of praise and treats to make the experience positive. Don’t expect your pet to wear the costume hours on end. Never leave your pet unattended while wearing the costume since they could struggle to remove the items and become tangled or injured.

Taking these precautionary steps will keep your companion animals safe and scare-free this Halloween.