Halloween is a treat for humans; but spooky for pets

Prepare now to prevent a frightening situation

King County Animal Care and Control would like to advise pet owners to take extra precaution this Halloween, Saturday October 31. Owners are advised to prepare their pets for Halloween visitors, but also take this opportunity to prepare their pets for pending natural disasters.

On Halloween, constant opening and closing of the door to greet trick-or-treaters can cause your pet to become scared or excited and dash out of your home unexpectedly. It is important that all of your pets are wearing two forms of ID at all times, such as a pet license, and ID tag, or a microchip, or any combination thereof. Even though programmatic changes have been proposed for Animal Care and Control in 2010, King County pet licenses are still valid, and are required by law for all pets in the King County service area. A pet license provides many benefits, and will add an additional layer of protection to reunite a lost pet with their owner.

While seasonal decorations and lit candles seem like fun for humans, they can be harmful to your pets and should be put out of reach of inquisitive noses and paws. Spooky sounds and strange costumes can also be scary for animals because they are sensitive to sounds and may not understand the unfamiliar characters or shouting at the front door as people come into your home for a party or to trick-or-treat.

To protect your pets on Halloween, King County Animal Care and Control suggests the following steps:

1. Before the end of the month, make sure your pet is wearing at least two forms of current I.D. This could be any combination, such as a pet license and microchip or a pet license and personal identification tag.
2. On Halloween night, make sure your pets are safe inside the house and away from the front door.
3. Store the Halloween candy away from animals. Chocolate contains theobryomine, which can be lethal for dogs if enough is digested.
4. If your pet becomes lost, be sure to visit your local animal shelters right away to look for your pet and post flyers in the neighborhood too.

King County Animal Care and Control recently announced that it will no longer accept owner-surrendered pets to prepare to move the Kent animal shelter out of the Green River valley flood zone; however they still accept stray animals, and continue serve as a location for owners who are searching for their lost pets. Animal Care and Control would like to prevent a spike in owners looking for lost pets after Halloween, by asking owners to ensure all pets wear at least two forms of ID.

In addition to containing the Halloween holiday, October is also flood preparedness month. If owners plan to visit pet stores or specialty shops to search for a costume for their pet, King County Animal Care and Control urges residents to take time at the store to gather supplies for a pet emergency kit, too.

This winter and fall flood season, the risk of potential flooding in the Green River valley is higher due to a damaged abutment next to the Howard Hanson dam. Even homes surrounding the immediate flood zone can be affected by power outages and sewer backups. To prepare your pets for the flood or any natural disaster, be sure to make an emergency kit for your pets which contains at least three days of food, water and medication. FEMA has created helpful disaster preparedness information for pet owners.

By taking a few extra precautions before Halloween and the potential flood season, pet owners can ensure this spooky seasonal celebration does not become scary for pets.

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King County Animal Care and Control's service area includes unincorporated King County and 32 contracting cities. The agency accepts all animals and has been promoting responsible pet ownership and providing animal related services to both people and animals for over 37 years.