MINNETONKA, Minn. — For many people, Halloween can be a spooky good time; but for our pets, it can be just plain scary.
Rachel Mairose, executive director and founder of Secondhand Hounds (soon to be The Bond Between) stopped by KARE 11 News at 4 to share these suggestions to keep your pet safe at Halloween:
1. Knock-knock
Be ready for the constant foot traffic at your front door on Halloween night.
"Especially if you have a new pet in the family and you don't know how they're going to react to people coming to the door constantly in costumes, it's always really good to make sure there's a safe, quiet space where they can be," Mairose said.
Mairose added that even if your pet is good with people, it still may be a good idea to have a baby gate or other barrier to prevent your pet from running outside. Also, make sure your pet's collar and ID is on and secure in case they do get out of the house.
2. Costumes
Don't be disappointed if your pet doesn't want to join in the costume fun.
"Make sure your dog is comfortable with a costume, or your kitty. We don't want to force animals to do something they don't want to do," Mairose said.
3. Candy
After Halloween, be careful that your pets don't get into certain treats that aren't good for them, especially chocolate and raisins for dogs.
If you're looking to add a new dog or cat to your family this fall, Secondhand Hounds is hosting a Halloween costume adoption event on Thursday, Oct. 26 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at their location at 5959 Baker Road, Suite 390 in Minnetonka. In addition to adoption, Mairose says they're also in need of fosters more than ever.
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