Handing out goodies to cute trick-or-treaters on Halloween makes for an entertaining evening, but your dog may become frightened as group after group of strangely dressed children and accompanying adults invade their space.  The holiday can be a scary and dangerous time for your pet. 

By following some simple tips you can keep your pet safe and comfortable without infringing on the family fun.

Candy, the bumble bee is up for adoption. Click on her picture to learn more about this cute little beagle.



- Keep your pet in a quiet place, away from trick-or-treaters and other Halloween activities.  All but the most social dogs and cats should be kept in a separate room during peak trick-or-treat visiting hours. Too many strangers can be scary and stressful for pets. When opening the door for trick-or-treaters, take care that your pet doesn't dart outside. Always make sure your pet has proper identification of a collar with tags and/or a microchip. If a pet is frightened by sudden noises, keep a television or radio on for the pet throughout the evening on Halloween to drown out the sounds of firecrackers and other loud pranks that can upset a dog with a sound-related phobia.
 
 - Keep pets restrained and away from open flames used in Halloween candles or Jack-o-Lanterns. Use caution so that pets don't knock over a candlelit pumpkin or get burned. A less dangerous alternative for candles involves using a special battery-powered Jack-o-Lantern light or an electric candle, complete with a special effects light bulb that appears to flicker like a candle.
 
 - Keep decorations that out of reach. Pumpkins and decorative corn can produce gastrointestinal upset or intestinal blockage if ingested. Keep wires and cords from electric lights and other decorations out of reach. 
 
 - Keep candy away from pets. Chocolate is toxic to animals. Tin foil and cellophane candy wrappers can be hazardous if swallowed. Small objects can cause life threatening blockages in the intestines if eaten by your pet.
 
 - Supervise pets who will be wearing a Halloween costume.  Halloween costumes for pets can be bulky and restrictive which can make walking, running, jumping very difficult. Pets can also become entangled in clothing and costumes, resulting in falls and other injuries, so always supervise a costumed dog. Do not obstruct their vision. Obstructed vision might make them nervous.
 
- It's best to leave the dogs at home while trick-or-treating. Costumes may look strange to people, but just imagine what they look like to a dog or cat. Loud noises and strange costumes may frighten your pet into the road and cause accidents. Trick-or-treaters may also drop potentially toxic chocolate candy, which a dog may pick up and eat without an owner noticing.

Dress up your pooch and join us
at CocoWalk at 3015 Grand Avenue in Coconut Grove for a town celebration! 

 

Paws 4 You will not only have adoptable dogs but Girl Scout Troop 118 will be putting together other festivities such as crafts for kids, pet costume pictures and raffles with fantastic prizes.

Email events@paws4you.org for additional information.

Sunset Feed & Supply (located at 7650 SW 117 Avenue in Miami) is always looking for ways to support the animals that have made their store a success over the past 50 years.

Sunset Feed is having contest for all the adoptive parents out there!

Ingredients:
4 cups organic brown rice
2 organic eggs with shells
3/4 cup organic steel cut oats
1 cup organic canned pumpkin
3/4 cup organic low-fat buttermilk
3/4 teaspoon sea salt
4 tablespoons organic shortening
1 tablespoon organic blackstrap molasses
2 teaspoons organic ground rosemary
1 teaspoon organic ground cinnamon

 

Mix dry ingredients in a large bowl.
Mix liquid ingredients in food processor, leaving egg shells in.
Combine wet and dry ingredients in bowl.
Knead until well-mixed, about five minutes.
Roll dough to 1/4-inch thickness on rice flour-covered pastry board.
Cut with 1-inch, small bone-shaped cutter.
Bake at 325 degrees for 15 minutes, then for 10 minutes at 300 degrees, and then 10 minutes at 250 degrees.

This recipe makes about 320 pumpkin bones, depending on the size of your cookie cutter. Recipe may be cut in half.

If you are too busy to bake, you can purchase the biscuits online at www.3jacksdogbakery.com.

Dogs will learn how to sit politely for friendly strangers, accept grooming and touch, heel on a loose lead, demonstrate manners while walking on the street, learn protocol for meeting other dogs, come when called, how to focus under distraction and how to deal with supervised separation.

For more information and a schedule of group classes contact training@applauseyourpaws.com.

Dogs who pass the class will receive the AKC's Canine Good Citizen Certification.  And if your family adopted from Paws 4 You Rescue, Dee is offering a special rate for this five week course!

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