Hazards for Pets During the Fall Season

School begins so watch for glue sticks, paint, pencils and crayons that can be toxic to your pets. Ensure these items are stowed in a high shelf/cabinet space where your pets cannot reach.

When changing fluids such as antifreeze in your vehicle, clean up any mess thorughly and ensure vehicle fluids like antifreeze are stowed away from pets and children. Stow in a locked cabinet if need be.

Watch out for wild mushrooms growing from all the fall moisture. Although some are edible, many mushroom varieties can be poisonous to people and pets.

If putting out poisons for pesky critters like rodents and insects ensure your pet cannot get into it nor eat the poisoned animal left behind. Dispose of used traps and dead bugs and rodents immediately in a trash can with a lid.

During holidays ensure pets keep away from candy, cooked bones and fatty foods which can wreak havoc in your pet's stomach and may even have the potential to cause death.

Ensure electrical wires, plastics, sharp objects and glass are kept far away and out of reach of pets and children.

If needed, use flea, tick and heartworm medicine all year round and not just in the Fall.

Halloween Safety Tips for Pets

The following tips will help make sure pets have just as happy a Halloween as everyone else.

•Chocolate and candies can be toxic to pets. Be sure to keep candy out of your pet's reach during and after the festivities.

•Bring all pets indoors before the trick-or-treating begins. Outdoor cats and dogs left in the backyard can fall victim to Halloween pranks.

•Make sure your pet has proper ID tags and is microchipped in case they get separated from you!

•If your pet is wary of strangers or people in costumes, keep your pet away from the front door and trick-or-treaters. Putting your pet in another room during trick-or-treating hours may provide a safe hiding place and reduce your pet's stress level.

•Keep pumpkins with candles, wires, and cords from holiday decorations out of your pet's reach.


•Halloween plants such as pumpkins and corn can give your pet a stomach ache. Although these plants are non-toxic, they can certainly make your pet uncomfortable if ingested.

•Don't force your pets to wear costumes if it is not clear he or she enjoys being dressed up. It can cause undue stress.

•If your pet is going to wear a costume, make sure it doesn't restrict their ability to move, see, breathe, bark, or meow. Equally important, make sure there are no small pieces on the costume that your pet can chew and swallow.


As for trick-or-treaters,  be cautious about approaching animals you or your children don't know--especially during Halloween.

If anyone comes across an animal that appears to be acting abnormally or if an animal bites a human, be sure to call Animal Control or 911 immediately.

Halloween Pet Safety Tips

Stash the Treats

Don't let your pet get into any type of candy. Place it high enough and out of reach or your pet.

Watch the Decor and Keep Wires Out of Reach

Don't let your pet chew or eat on decor and wires.Be careful with candles.Keep glow sticks away from pets.

Be Careful with Costumes

Avoid covering your pets face and keep dangling things to a minimum and out of reach.

Keep Pets Calm

If your pet doesn't like people or other pets keep them separated so as not to cause anxiety. Keep confined and way from the door

Keep Identity on Your Pets at All Times

Make sure your pet is micro-chipped and has a visible collar with your info on it.

Keep Pets Indoors

Don't leave your pet outside or in the yard especially without supervision.

Courage the Cowardly Dog Costume Tutorial

Courage the Cowardly Dog Costume Tutorial

So this was a past Halloween event... ahem....experiment. I had decided to take my 3-year old daughter to this Trunk-or-Treat thing in our neighborhood. Dressed her up as a witch and well hey I thought she needs a  magical critter. I looked at Milo and thought "Courage the Cowardly Dog" is pink why not a pink Milo!

Steps for a Colorful Dog

Step 1: First had to figure out something nontoxic and washable. I had two choices: food coloring or Kool-Aid (w/o the sugar!) Guess what I had on hand? Kool-Aid.....

Step 2: Mix the Kool-aid or food coloring with some warm water. Add more water for lighter color and less water for more intense color. Wear gloves! Otherwise your hands will be turning some freaky colors 0_o

Step 3: Put your pup or kitty in the tub or sink. Use a rag or even a paintbrush might work and start working the color into the upper layer of fur. Avoid rubbing into the skin cause it will stain (temporarily).

Step 4: Let dry and ta-da you got one rainbow-rific pet ^_^

*Warning and Tips*

Only do this if both you and your pet are comfortable with bathing. Seriously there is no need to stress your pets out if they detest baths and not to mention avoid injuring yourself  from a freaked out pet.

Do not use products meant for people on pets i.e temporary hair dye!

This works best on light colored pets or more specifically white!

Kool-Aid and food coloring will stain temporarily. So try not to get it on you hands or much loved furniture.

It will take several (will vary depending on color intensity) baths to wash the color out completely so expect you pet to be rainbow-fied for a few days not just one night. It took about 3-4 baths to wash all the color from Milo. Good thing he enjoys his baths 0_o