While Halloween is a great occasion to dress up and show off your four-legged family members, keep some tips in mind to help them have a safe holiday.

I blogged about pet safety tips for Halloween last year, and here they are again:

• Animal-proof your candy stash (from Petco's "The Chilling Effects of Chocolate")
• Let your dog meet your child in costume so he is not frightened later (from Petco's "The Chilling Effects of Chocolate")
• Keep jack-o'-lanterns and candles out of reach of animals and their tails (from Halloween Safety Guide)
• Don't let animals (especially black cats) outside, or keep them in a separate room during trick or treat at parties. Noise and doorbell-ringing may stress them out. (from AMVA's Paws for Pets)
• Dress your pet in reflective costumes, and don't leave a dressed-up pet alone because they make chew or choke on their costumes (from About.com's Veterinary Medicine guide)

For more tips, check out ASPCA's Halloween Safety Tips for Pet Parents.


-- Cheryl Sadler | CSadler@News-Herald.com | @nhcheryl