Halloween Safety Tips For Pets from the Humane Society of Utah 

News Release

Halloween Safety Tips For Pets 

Murray – Utah, Oct. 21, 2022 – “As spooky season approaches, it is easy to get carried away with all the tricks and treats, but pet owners should remember that Halloween can be a stressful time for their furry friends. ” Says Guinnevere Shuster, director of marketing and communications at Humane Society of Utah. The Humane Society of Utah (HSU) offers these safety tips to keep your familiars, hellhounds, and riffraff secure and delighted during this festive time of year.

Holiday safety tips for pets:

• Know which holiday treats are safe for your pet and which are not: Keep pets away from anything containing chocolate or xylitol (sometimes called “birch sugar”), which is a popular ingredient in sugar-free candy 
• Don’t allow children to store their Halloween candy stash in their room, as pets have very strong noses and can likely find even the most carefully hidden treats. Keep candy up high and stored securely out of paws reach
• Loud noises and spooky animatronics can be scary for pets: Don’t put up decorations that put your pets at unease in locations where they will routinely come across them. Also, avoid taking pets to areas where these types of decorations are present, such as local Halloween displays
• Don’t leave pets outdoors and unattended on Halloween night: With all the hustle and bustle that is typical on Halloween night, it is dangerous to leave pets out in the yard without supervision. 
• Make sure pets have microchips and ID tags: Should your pet be startled, they may react by running away from whatever startled them. In case of an escape, make sure all your animals have microchips and ID tags with up-to-date and accurate information
• Keep pets away from jack-o’-lanterns, candles, and glow sticks: Pets can potentially burn themselves on candles used to light jack-o-lanterns and other decorations, or they could tip them over and cause a fire. Glow sticks, though typically non-toxic, have a bitter taste which may cause a negative reaction by any pets who decide to chew on them
• Know your pet before deciding to put them into a costume: While some pets don’t mind dressing up for Halloween, for many, it can be an experience that causes undue stress and even injury. “Pets should never be in a situation where they are uncomfortable or fearful as that can create a situation where the pet has to protect themselves by growling or biting,” said Anjela Sullenger, HSU’s behavior and training manager. 

Photos for media use can be downloaded here.

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