9 Halloween Safety Tips for Your Pets

While Halloween is a fun day to dress up and eat your fair share of candy, remember the holiday isn't as fun for your pets!  When people are suddenly wearing weird masks, hats, and ringing the doorbell, Halloween can be stressful and confusing for dogs and cats. Here are a few tips to ensure your pets have a safe and happy Halloween!

1. Keep the candy away from your pets! Chocolate in all forms—especially dark or baking chocolate—can be very dangerous for dogs and cats. Candies containing the artificial sweetener xylitol can also cause severe problems.

2. Wires and cords from electric lights and other decorations should be kept out of reach of your pets. If chewed, your pet might suffer cuts or burns, or receive a possibly life-threatening electrical shock.

3. If you dress up your pet, make sure the costume isn't annoying or unsafe. It should not constrict movement or hearing, or impede their ability to breathe, bark or meow. Also, be sure to try on costumes before the big night. If your pet seems distressed, allergic or shows abnormal behavior, consider letting them go au naturale or wear a festive bandana.

4. Take a close look at your pet’s costume and make sure it does not have small, dangling or easily chewed-off pieces that they could choke on. Also, poor-fitting outfits can get twisted on external objects or your pet, leading to injury.

5. Keep your pets in a safe, quiet and separate room away from the front door during peak trick-or-treating hours or party time. Too many strangers and excessive doorbell ringing can be scary and stressful for pets.

6. When opening the door for trick-or-treaters, make sure your cat or dog doesn't dart outside. In case they do happen to escape through the open door, make sure your pet is properly identified with a microchip and/or collar and ID tag.

7. Keep lit candles and jack-o-lanterns out of reach from your furry friends. Their curiosity may cause them to get burned!

8. Keep glow sticks and glow jewelry away from your pets. Although the liquid in these products isn't likely toxic, it tastes really bad and makes pets salivate excessively and act strange!

9. If going out to trick-or-treat, leave your dog at home! Lots of costumed children on the street may be frightening. 

Knowing the potential risks will help your family have the best day possible. Happy Halloween!  We hope you have a spook-tacular day!

Source: AMVA, ASPCA

Trick AND Treat: Keeping Pets Safe on Halloween

On Halloween, kids aren't the only ones doing tricks for treats. All the excitement around costumes, trick-or-treating and decorating can get your pet riled up and ready for some fun, too. Get them involved by picking out a festive four-legged costume and taking a few precautions to make sure your whole family enjoys the holiday safely.

People Treats vs. Pet Treats. As pointed out by Parade magazine this week, all those Halloween candies that we just can't get enough of, especially chocolate, are not safe for pets to eat. The plastic and cellophane wrappers they come in are no good for dogs, either. Keep your trick-or-treat candy bowl covered and out of reach of your pet. Instead, you can find festive pet treats for an extra special something for your sweetie. Visit our lobby for some spooky and delicious options that will keep your pup busy munching away.

Ding Dong Dog. During prime trick-or-treat hours, it is best to keep your pet enclosed in an area away from the front door or wherever children will be visiting. The constant flow of guests can be stressful on your pet, not to mention the risk of a cat or dog sneaking out the front door as you hand out treats. Keep everyone safe and secure by giving them their own space away from the costumed kiddies.

Decor Gore. Be sure to check for decorations that could prove dangerous for your dog. As much as we love to put out pumpkins, candles and other witchy decorations this time of year, a curious or agitated pet may decide to do their own redecorating while you're not watching. Just like candy, keep these festive pieces out of your dog's reach, and be especially careful with flames or electronic pieces.

Take Care with Costumes. Sparky might look perfectly spooky in that ghost costume, but make sure your pet's outfits on Halloween do not limit their visibility or movement. You want your pet to be comfortable in their attire, so make sure their cute costume fits well and is not restrictive in any way. Read tips on getting your dog used to their costume on our sister company Morris K9 Campus' blog, A Dog's Life.

Not sure what kind of costume would fit your dog best? We offer tons of cute and creative pet costume ideas on our "Pet Costumes" Pinterest board. Visit for a dose of inspiration as everyone's favorite spooky holiday approaches! 

Dress to Impress this Halloween



Spooktacular costume for the MUTTster Mash Doggie Daycare Party at Morris Animal Inn.



Lighthearted dog owners swear that dressing their dog up at Halloween is a barrel of fun that never gets old. 



According to a recent Wayfair.com announcement, retailers will see a 20% spike in Halloween costumes for our four-legged friends this season.  Whether your dog will be joining the fun at Morris Animal Inn’s MUTTster Mash this Halloween or just taking a stroll with the rest of the family, make sure they are sporting the hottest looking costumes on the shelves today.

Check out this year's Top Selling Costumes:



It's Superman saving the day at Morris Animal Inn's MUTTster Mash!



1.      Superhero

2.      Elephant

3.      Lederhosen (For our furry German friends)

4.      Taco

5.      Chef

With costumes like these, your dog is sure to come home with a pillow case full of biscuits!





Clowning around in the Morris Animal Inn Photo Boooooth!



Morris Animal Inn staff gets ready for a howling good time!



We are pleased to have Vin, as a contributing writer for If They Could Talk. Vin is a passionate dog owner. We look forward to sharing his contribution on interesting and educational pet topics.









SAFETY TIPS FOR HOWL-O-WEEN

The pumpkins are carved; the seeds have been roasted; the candy bowls are full; the cobwebs strategically draped; the kids' costumes have been made or bought and you are just about to kick back with some witches brew... but wait! What about your own little Cujo? In all the double, double toil and trouble of your preparations, it's easy to overlook your pets at Halloween. For others, Fido and Fluffy take center stage this time of year in costumes that are more elaborate than those at Mardi Gras in Rio. Whichever way your dog factors into your Halloween plans, we have some important tips for you to keep in mind on this spooky day.

Trick or Treat!

The amount of candy we generally keep on hand for Halloween night is enough to send anyone into a sugar coma. Bowls line the coffee table in the living room awaiting the trick or treaters and within easy reach of your dog’s curious nose. It’s not only kids that can get sick from too many sweets. Your own pup can suffer as well, specifically if his or her wet nose happens to find the chocolate candy. Baking chocolate or dark chocolate with higher concentrations of cacao are more likely to harm your pet than sweeter varieties like milk chocolate. Since you are unlikely to be handing out baking chocolate to kids, you have less to worry about, but eating chocolate in any quantity is unhealthy for a dog. Small amounts of milk chocolate can cause vomiting and diarrhea. For a 50 lb dog, a toxic amount of milk chocolate would be around 50 oz. Tell family members not to share any chocolate or candy with pets.  Another ingredient to watch out for is xylitol, a sweetener found in candy, mints, and gum. This artificial sweetener can be fatal if ingested or cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). Because you can never be sure how much chocolate or candy your dog has consumed, always consult your veterinarian to be on the safe side.

Fire Burn and Cauldron Bubble

Carved lit pumpkins look beautiful and eerie on a cold autumn night. Just make sure you keep your Jack-O-Lanterns outside in a location where Fido and Fluffy can’t run into them and potentially knock them over, creating a fire hazard. Another thing to be aware of is alcohol which tends to be on hand at Halloween parties. Keep your bubbly brew away from fuzzy friends.

Photo Courtesy of Hello Turkey Toe



Ding Dong

With the constant knocking on your door and ringing of your doorbell, it's enough to annoy any good-natured Halloween fan, but imagine the stress it causes your cat or dog who feels it's their duty to protect the house. In addition, the frightening costumes that trick or treaters wear can scare Fido. Even dogs that are generally well-behaved may react differently to strangers at the door dressed in monstrous outfits. Since the door will be continuously opened and closed, there is the chance your dog or cat may bolt. To avoid this situation, keep your pet contained in a crate or enclosed in another room. If it makes you feel safer, have them spend the night at Morris Animal Inn.

Canine Costumes

Your dog or cat does not care whether you choose to dress him or her as Lady Gaga or a bumblebee. As long as your pet gets to play the day away and enjoy some canine snacks, he or she will be content and happy. But if you have a pet that freezes in place or hides whenever you put a winter coat on them, dressing your buddy up may not be a good idea. Don’t force it simply for your own enjoyment; respect the comfort wishes of your canine companion. If your pet is willing to be dressed, make sure the costume is safe. Long parts that flow and can easily trip your pet or get stuck, can cause a hazardous situation. Avoid elaborate costumes with choking hazards or other unsafe attachments. If your dog likes getting dressed up or wants to play the day away, make sure to attend our MUTTster Mash on Friday, October 28th to enjoy all of our canine Halloween themed activities like our Costume Pet Parade. There will be pet portraits of your pup in costume that you can buy from our Shutterfly site.

If you keep these tips in mind, your Howl-O-Ween is sure to be spooktacular!

Autumnal Events for the Dog Lover

Autumn officially begins this Friday the 23^rd. We have already felt its upcoming arrival with temperatures this week and last week dipping into the low 50s. But we truly know fall is upon us when the flannel sheets are taken out to keep us warm at night, pumpkin lattes become the beverage of choice, and leaves and acorns crunch under our feet. Though fall can turn the landscape into a scenic painting, the colder weather can cause some of us to begin our hibernation early, holing up in our warm houses with mugs of apple cider. There’s nothing wrong with that, it happens to be one of the best features of fall. But what about Fido? How can you keep the carefree nature of summer that your pets enjoyed so much going into the cooler months? Not a problem! There are a slew of fall-themed dog events happening this season and we’ve got the low-down!

Puptoberfest

Fall wouldn’t be the same without this popular canine event! Now in its seventh year, this Eleventh Hour Rescue event has become an autumnal staple of the season. Originally created as a reunion for the shelter’s adopters, it has grown into something much more! This year’s fest will include fun activities, food, music, entertainment, and of course dogs, dogs and more dogs! Additionally, Puptoberfest will feature a bevy of animal friendly vendors including our sister company Morris K9 Campus! Stop by and say hi!

When: 9/24/11  11:00AM-5:00PM

Where: Craigmeur Recreation Complex, Rockaway, NJ

Strong Dogs Day
This is the Somerset Hills YMCA's second year hosting this event which they hope encourages people to get outside and exercise with their dog. There will be a blessing of the dogs at 11:00AM followed by a community dog walk. Games, contests, and prizes will keep the fun going for hours! Stop by Morris Animal Inn's table for free gifts!
When: 9/24/11 10:00AM-1:00PM
Where: Somerset Hills YMCA 140 Mt. Airy Rd Basking Ridge, NJ

Howl N' Hike

Help Noah’s Ark raise funds for their animal shelter this October! Sign up to walk around scenic Horseshoe Lake with your furry companion and other dog owners. Make sure to raise funds ahead of time by collecting pledges from family members, friends, co-workers and anyone who wants to support a good cause. Turn in your pledges the day of the event. The top three people to gather the most pledges, will win awesome prizes! Other activities will include a canine athletics demo, Pet Costume Parade, Jack-O-Lantern Carving Contest, Microchip Clinic, and Adoption Alley that will put adorable pets looking for their forever homes on display!

When: 10/16/11   12:00PM-4:00PM

Where: Horseshoe Lake, Succasunna NJ

Morris K9 Campus Fall Festival: Tips, Tricks and Tails

This exciting event will be held by our sister company, Morris K9 Campus. Festivities will feature flying disc demos, agility demos, doggie dancing, a K9 Costume Parade, “Ask the Trainer” and more! There will be refreshments for dogs and people, prizes, and amazing giveaways! Pick up a key at Morris K9 Campus to see if you can unlock the prizes inside the Haunted Treasure Chest. You just might win a $100 mall gift certificate or a Kindle, among other prizes! Attendees are encouraged to bring a donation of unopened dog or cat food to help feed shelter animals in the area. There will also be on-site dog and cat adoptions from local area shelters such as Eleventh Hour Rescue, Noah’s Ark, and the Randolph Pound.

When: 10/23/11 12:00PM-4:00PM

Where: Morris K9 Campus 1 Aspen Drive, Randolph, NJ

The weather might be getting cooler but dog festivals are just beginning to heat up! So go ahead and sip that cider but don’t forget to take advantage of the temperature dip. This type of weather makes outdoor activities easier on your pet. So make sure to attend these events with Fido in tow!

Other Fall Events (Not Dog Specific)
Morristown Festival on the Green
When: 10/2/11  12:00AM-5:00PM
Where: The Morristown Green and surrounding area

Bernardsville Unity Day
When: 10/1/11  11:00AM-5:00PM
Where: Nervine Memorial Park, Bernardsville, NJ
Morris Animal Inn will have a table at these events! Please stop by, say hello, and win a free giveaway. We would love to see you!