Adam Sutley and Lili dressed up as medical professionals for the annual Broadway Halloween Parade. October 19, 2024.
Kevin J. Beatty/Denverite
There is something uniquely human about enjoying the feeling of being scared. But dogs, cats, turtles, and all other creatures in the house don’t necessarily share that tendency. And Halloween can be downright scary for them, in a bad way.
Here’s the problem. If your pet is scared, they’re more likely to scratch, chew, or eat your fancy new couch or your favorite Nuggets hat.
If they eat the candy, they can die and haunt you forever, far beyond Halloween. (I still hear my late dog Butter, who was sick from old age, walking around upstairs. Sometimes I hear the sound of my bedroom door opening. Every time I hear it, I get goosebumps. And I feel a little loved.) (Isn’t that inevitable? Romantic?)
And if their furry friends run away while handing out treats to unsightly goblins and ghouls on their doorstep, Fido and Felix may never come back.
The staff at Denver Animal Care has a cauldron of tips for not scaring your pet on Halloween, the second scariest holiday for your best friend after the Fourth of July.
Yes, your pet is cute in costume. But do they feel cute?
There’s a $700 million industry dedicated to selling cute costumes for pets.
However, playing dress up to Lassie can hurt her feelings, cause her stress and cause her to lose a bit of trust.
“The pet may overheat or have difficulty breathing,” Denver Animal Care explained. “Visibility can also be impaired, and any pieces that can be chewed up become a choking hazard.”
In short, be aware. If costumes stress your animal, make her a wallflower at your party. They can hang out with introverts like me in the back room with books and snacks.
I guess the postman thought he scared Rover…
Imagine what they’ll think when a group of clowns starts banging on their door.
They may want to protect you. So they lunge at the giggling teenager. Or simply go berserk and charge into the nightmarish city. Then, seeing the marauding trick-or-treaters, they continue their dash.
One: I’m going to miss you. 2: Crunchy the dachshund wanders around the neighborhood on Halloween, hoping he doesn’t turn into the murderous Cujo. (Editor’s note: This appears to be a reference to the 1983 horror film about a really mean St. Bernard, perhaps a prequel to Beethoven.) (Reporter’s note: This is a Stephen King book! )
Denver Animal Rescue says you should consider putting your animal in a cozy crate.
Alternatively, find a cozy room, play some gentle music, and give him a tasty treat instead of chocolate.
“Make sure your pet’s ID tag is updated and microchipped. This will help if your pet escapes,” officials explained. “If you recently moved or changed your phone number, be sure to consult your veterinarian to update your pet’s microchip.”
If your animal escapes from the fun, you can always check out Denver Animal Rescue’s Lost Pets page.
Our delicious food can be deadly to dogs.
A cocoa compound called theobromine is not broken down in your dog’s intestines. The darker the chocolate, the more dangerous the candy. This can put stress on your dog’s nervous system and kidneys. Seizures, shaking, shaking, and crying may occur.
Sugar-free gum is also not a good choice, even if your dentist claims it’s good for you.
“The artificial sweetener xylitol is also toxic to dogs, who cannot digest it and can cause dangerously low blood sugar levels and liver damage,” the agency said.
Parties come with risks.
Penelope the poodle can knock down flaming pumpkins and burn down your house with her curvy head.
“Fake spider webs and hanging lights can entangle pets,” the animal rights group says. “Decorative electrical cords can also be chewed on, causing electric shocks and burns.”
If you confine your dog, make sure there’s a sign on the door so guests can’t come in and scare your dog. Otherwise, your pup or your friend may get really freaked out.
If you don’t have a pet, you may need to worry.
The Denver Animal Shelter is offering a $31 adoption fee for all animals over 1 year old through Oct. 31. We also have cute items in stock.
Visit Denver Animal Shelter for more information.
