Pets and Halloween

Features

October 24, 2009

By Joyce McNally The McAlester News-Capital Sat Oct 24, 2009, 01:24 PM CDT

Next week is Halloween. It’s a great holiday for kids, but it can be hard on pets if you don’t take some precautions. Think safety. Keep your pet safely indoors, away from noisy groups of small ghouls and goblins and away from the door where it can accidentally escape as you open the door for trick-or-treaters. If you are the one doing the trick or treating, it’s best to leave your pet home. All the extra kids, parents, and even vehicles can cause a safety issue if you have your pet on a leash. Kids love animals and always have a tendency to want to run up and pet them. If your pal isn’t used to being around children, it may feel uneasy and growl or snap at the child. Halloween is supposed to be a fun time, so let’s leave the pets at home.

Do you know that pet costumes are the latest Halloween craze? Can you resist dressing up your pet in those cute little hats and witches capes? I’ve seen some doggy costumes that are really cute, but be careful if you dress up your pal. Make sure your pet can move freely and won’t stumble over the costume if it drags on the floor. The costume should not be something that is tied around the neck. You wouldn’t want your pal to choke or strangle if you have it tied around his neck and it gets caught on something.

When the porch lights go out and all the witches and goblins go home be sure you’re your pet doesn’t get into the candy bucket. Candy can make a pet sick or may be lethal.

Chocolate contains a stimulant called Theobromine, which can make both dogs and cats very sick. If too much is eaten, it could even cause death. Dog treats and catnip toys work best and your pal will be very content if you share these types of treats instead of candy.

The best way to show your dog that you love him is to think safety, just as you would your child. Make sure he gets his shots and you use flea, tick, and heartworm prevention every month. In this part of the country, it doesn’t get cold enough to kill the fleas, ticks, and mosquitoes so it’s important to add these meds to your monthly regimen. And most importantly, put a nametag and phone number on its collar so you can be found if your pet gets away. Microchips are also available, so talk to your veterinarian about having it done.

October is “Adopt a Shelter Dog” month; so if you are looking for a special addition to your family, stop by the Pittsburg County Animal Shelter at 1206 N. West Street. The phone number is 423-7803

Text Only

Features

Local singer ready to go national
Singer Joanie Brooks has a song in her heart — and she’s ready to share it with the nation.

February 11, 2012 2 Photos
10 most romantic hotels in the U.S.
Valentine’s Day will be here soon, and a romantic getaway may be just what the heart needs. TripAdvisor has released its list of the 10 most romantic hotels in the country, based on travelers’ reviews about the beautiful scenery, friendly staffs and romantic amenities like hot tubs and fireplaces.

February 10, 2012 1 Photo
Viral video: Grizzly bear cub, wolf cub play together
It’s like something out of a children's book: A bear cub meets a wolf cub and they become the best of friends. Even though they are different species and ferocious predators, the unlikely couple stays pals for life.

February 10, 2012 1 Photo
Globetrotters stop into McAlester for World Championship game
On Monday, the Harlem Globetrotters chose McAlester as a stop on their World Championship Tour.

February 7, 2012 23 Photos 1 Story
McAlester soldier saw 511 days of combat in World War II
Andrew “Andy” Jackson Crittenden got to see Europe as a young man — along with his fellow GI’s who fought their way across Italy, France and Germany in some of World War II’s fiercest battles.

February 4, 2012 2 Photos
Sneak peek at this year's hottest Super Bowl ads
The Super Bowl is a must-watch TV event, if not for the outcome of the biggest football game of the year, then at least for the multi-million dollar commercials that run throughout. And this year’s buzzworthy spots include celebrity appearances, homages to movies and lots of humor.

February 3, 2012 1 Photo
VIDEO: NFL Experience a hit with Super Bowl fans
The NFL's interactive theme park pre-sold more than 65,000 tickets for Super Bowl week and has become the destination of choice for visitors to Indianapolis.

February 3, 2012 1 Photo
SLIDESHOW: Madonna hypes Super Bowl halftime show Madonna answers questions from the media during a news conference to hype the halftime show for Super Bowl XLVI.
February 2, 2012
SLIDESHOW: Super Bowl by the numbers The nation's biggest sporting event produces some staggering statistics, from the number of chicken wings consumed -- 1.25 billion -- to the amount of money some people plan to bet on the game.
February 2, 2012
VIDEO: Punxsutawney Phil makes his prediction
More than 18,000 people descended on Gobbler's Knob in Punxsutawney for the annual Groundhog Day celebration.

February 2, 2012 1 Photo
More Features Headlines

It's awards season? Which 85th Academy Award nominated movie for Best Picture is your fave?

Features

Search Results

Pets and Halloween

It's awards season? Which 85th Academy Award nominated movie for Best Picture is your fave?

Site Map

Contact Us