With Halloween fast approaching, many of us are eagerly getting ready for a season of spooky fun. Although the festivities can give us the chance to flex our creative muscles, it’s important to remember to keep our companion animals’ lives scare-free.
Visits from strangers, crazy costumes, spooky decorations, and treats can all impact both wildlife and our beloved pets at home.
“It’s important to remember that animals don’t understand events like Halloween like we do,” says RSPCA NSW Chief Veterinarian, Dr. Liz Arnott. “While unfamiliar people, creepy costumes, and a higher volume of visitors aren’t generally concerning for us humans on days like Halloween, these encounters can be stressful and intimidating for many of our pets.”
Dr. Arnott urges pet guardians to keep their furry friends away from any trick-or-treaters paying you a visit. Aim to set them up in an area of the house where they feel safe and where you can create a barrier preventing them from rushing to visitors at the front door. You can keep them comfortable by ensuring their bedding and toys are close by and that they have a chew or feeding enrichment to keep them occupied; not only will this reduce their exposure to unfamiliar guests, but it will also lower the likelihood of your pet escaping through the front door when entertaining trick-or-treaters.
Although the festivities can also mean a slew of treats coming into your home, it’s important to be mindful that the foods we humans enjoy don’t put your animal’s health at risk.
“While a seasonal highlight for us humans, Halloween favourites like chocolate and lollies are dangerously toxic for our pets. These may contain ingredients like theobromine and xylitol, which may cause vomiting, diarrhoea, and seizures, and can even be deadly when ingested in sufficient quantities,” says Dr. Arnott.
Decorations such as tinsel and small or brittle Halloween ornaments can also pose a risk if they are consumed by our furry friends. If swallowed, they can cause internal damage and create surgical emergencies by obstructing the intestinal tract. If you suspect that your pet has eaten something they shouldn’t have, please contact a veterinarian as soon as possible.
Any decorations set up outdoors, whether in your front yard or on trees, may present similar welfare risks to wildlife. Fake spiderwebs, for example, might add some mystique to your garden or street, but they can cause entanglements for birds, insects, and small roaming mammals.
You can make Halloween less dangerous for wildlife by opting for outdoor decorations that keep the local environment in mind. Using decorations that won’t entangle birds as well as opting out of single-use, non-biodegradable decorations can be the difference between keeping things festive and disrupting our native wildlife.
In addition, it’s important to note that pets may not be used to seeing people dress up for Halloween. When going trick-or-treating or having guests over to celebrate, please give both your pets and other people’s animals the time and space to adjust to your new look.
Indeed, you can’t always predict how animals you may encounter will behave towards you or your children while trick-or-treating. Take extra care to give other people’s pets lots of space to ensure that you keep everyone safe and avoid frightening your neighbour’s furry friends.
You may also feel inspired to dress your pet up for the spooky season too, but it’s vital to remember that many animals aren’t used to wearing costumes and would not choose to do so. A costume will likely feel quite unusual to your animal: it might impair your pet’s ability to move properly or communicate with their carers and other companion animals, which can lead to confusion or conflict.
Additionally, pets who are uncomfortable in their costume, or those who have simply had enough of dressing up, aren’t able to get out of their outfits without the assistance of their carers. Being stuck in an uncomfortable costume and not being able to choose to take it off can be an extremely stressful experience for your animal companion.
“Our pets primarily communicate through body language, using their ears, eyes, tails, and posture to convey how they are feeling,” explains Dr. Arnott.
“If your pet is feeling anxious or uncomfortable, you might miss important tells and signals if they’re being restricted by a costume, so a safe alternative might be to limit the dress ups to a festive bandanna instead.”
Be mindful of your furry friend, other pets, and wildlife animals this Halloween to ensure that everyone enjoys a holiday free from unwanted frights and hazards.
For more information, please visit the RSPCA Knowledgebase at www.kb.rspca.org.au.
