Humans aren't the only ones who have to worry about cold weather. Animals are at risk when the temperature drops, too.

Dr. Jeffrey A. Richman of Richman Animal Clinic offered some suggestions for keeping pets safe in the cold in a news release published on finance.yahoo.com. Check it out before leaving animals out in the cold.


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

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

Higher temperatures can be deadly for dogs left in cars.

Staff Writer Jean Bonchak wrote about the dangers of leaving children and animals in vehicles earlier this month.

Journal Register News Service Writer Patti Schmidt also has written about hot-car death trap.

Check out both of those articles to learn more about the risk of leaving children and pets in cars, including what can happen to them, and what you should do if you see a pet left in a hot car.


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

While many may be concerned about the safety of children during Halloween, don't forget about your furry friends. Candy and costumes also can be a danger to pets.

Jeff Forman/JForman@News-Herald.com
Aimee Kaija's boxer Roxy wears a tutu
for Halloween 2009 during a visit to PetSmart
in Mentor. Kaija lives in Mentor.

Some advice for the pet owner this Halloween (click through to the sources to find more information and tips):

• 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