- Keep pets safely inside; away from trick-or-treaters and other Halloween activities.
- Cats—black ones in particular—often fall victim to pranksters. Keep cats safely indoors.
- Make certain that all pets are wearing collars with ID tags. Frequently open doors provide perfect opportunities for escape, despite an owner's best efforts.
- Keep candy out of your pet's reach. Candy can be harmful to pets and chocolate is toxic to dogs, cats and ferrets.
- Decorations should be kept away from pets. Candle flames can potentially set fire to a pet's fur. Dangling decorations should be kept in high places to avoid pet entanglement, choking and other potentially life-threatening hazards.
- The only costume most pets want to wear is their own furry birthday suit. Costumes and masks can increase their risk of injury by causing them to feel confined and restricting movement.
- If trick-or-treating is the name of your game, leave the family dog at home. Dogs can be difficult to control amidst all the commotion. A lost pet or dog bite will quickly end your Halloween fun.
- Use fake cobwebs sparingly outdoors on your trees and bushes. These may adversely affect both pets and wildlife. Small birds are especially vulnerable and can easily become entangled in the webbing.
- Humane Society of the United States