Halloween is fast becoming the most popular holiday for humans.  But considerable hound safety risks come along with the fun.  Please take a minute to read these Halloween safety tips to make sure your hounds enjoy the day too!

1. Stay In for Trick or Treating: One of the greatest Halloween canine risks is escape through repeatedly opened doors on trick or treat night. The best safety precaution for you will depend on your hound's propensity to escape. Some hounds do well on a leash until the trick or treating stops.  Other hounds are ok with a baby gate or ex pen at the front door.  But shy dogs might need to be kept away from the door entirely, either confined to another room by a closed door or in a crate. 

2. Go Out for Trick or Treating: To stay safe, plan to walk your dogs before dark and to keep them indoors for the rest of the night. If your can't resist trick or treating with your hounds, remember they will be exposed to unusual commotion and noises. Typically brave dogs may become fearful under these circumstances. Keep an extra tight hold on the leash and cross the street to avoid startling decorations or boisterous groups of kids. Watch traffic closely and consider reflective safety leg bands or head lamps to increase visibility.

3. Keep Pets Safe Inside: All pets, especially black pets, are targets for vicious pranksters during the Halloween season.  Because of the association of black with Halloween and the use of animals in some rituals, pets are at risk for being teased, stolen, injured and even killed. Check your fence, gates, doors, and windows to ensure your pets are safely enclosed and keep them inside with you as much as possible for Halloween and a few days thereafter. 

4. Check Tags and Microchip Info: Both the risk of escape and the difficulty of capturing a lost dog increase on Halloween. The trick or treating commotion can send an otherwise brave pup racing away.  And loving pup parents dressed as monsters become unapproachable. In case the worst happens, take some time now to make sure your dogs' identification tags are secure and current and that the contact information associated with your pet's microchip is up to date. 

5. Think Twice About Costumes: Pet costumes are often more fun for humans than hounds. If your doggie looks uncomfortable in a costume, he probably is. Go with a simple bandana instead. If your pup loves to dress, make sure the costume does not restrict movement, breathing, barking, panting, hearing, or seeing.  Remove any objects that might be chewed off and become a choking hazard.  Don't use elastic or rubber bands as they can cut off circulation. Always supervise pets in costume and monitor for over heating.  If your hound dresses for Halloween, take a picture and email it to socialmedia@galtx.org to enter it in GALT's costume contest! The three pictures with the most Facebook likes at midnight on Halloween will win prizes from the GreytStore!

6. Keep Candy Out of Reach: Dogs shouldn't have any candy, but chocolate and candies sweetened with Xylitol are especially dangerous because they are toxic to dogs. Keep all of the sweets out of reach and watch young children with candy to ensure they don't inappropriately share. If you think your pup ingested something harmful, contact your vet or call the 24-hour ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center hotline at 888-426-4435 ($65 per case).  Remember, candy and wrappers will likely be on sidewalks and in yards for days. Take care that your pup doesn't pick anything up to eat on walks.

BLESSING OF THE HOUNDS!

Art by April Murphy of AEM Gallery.

At 1:30 pm, October 25, 2015, GALT is hosting a blessing of the hounds at Les Lacs Park Pavilion, 3900 Beltway, Addison, TX.  The location is right across the street from the Addison Athletic Center.  The blessing will be conducted by Rev. Melissa Bitting. Please RSVP to info@GALTx.org with the number of dogs you plan to bring so we will have plenty of St. Francis medals for all.  This is an all breed event!  Looking forward to seeing you there!