Halloween is only four days away, and I am sure that you have had the day’s festivities planned and organized for at least a week. You know what time you are attending your local festival, eating dinner, trick or treating and then ensuring to get home in time for you to make it to your friend’s party. The whole day is strategically laid out for everyone to get the most enjoyment, but have you overlooked your pets role in the day?

More pets are lost on Halloween than they are any other day of the year. And, when you really take a moment to think about this, it makes perfect sense. Your day is filled with one activity after another, and then, come nightfall, your front door stays open more than it is closed. So, make sure you are thoroughly prepared for Halloween by making plans for your pets also. Here are a few great pet safety tips that we got from Georgia Canines for Independence (we also got this adorable photo from GCI)to ensure your pets enjoy the holiday as much as you do:

• For some pets, wearing a costume causes stress. Dressing up should be fun, so if your pet gets anxious, do not force it on him/her.
• Be careful with the candy! Chocolate and candies containing the artificial sweetener xylitol can be very poisonous. If you suspect your pet has ingested a dangerous substance, contact the ASPCA Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435.
• A carved pumpkin certainly is festive, but do exercise extreme caution if you choose to add a candle. Pets can easily knock a lit pumpkin over and cause a fire. Keep wires and cords from electric lights and other decorations out of reach of your pets.
• All but the most social dogs and cats should be kept in a separate room away from the front door during peak trick-or-treat visiting hours. Too many strangers can be scary and stressful for some pets.
• When opening the door for trick-or-treaters, take care that your dog or cat doesn’t dart outside.
• ID’s please! Always make sure that your pet has proper identification – it’s the number one thing to do for lost pet prevention. If for any reason your pet escapes and becomes lost, a collar, tags, and/or microchip can increase the chance that he/she will be returned to you.