The Fur (& Feather!) Flyer

The following information is from About.com's Veterinary Medicine advice section.  Good things to keep in mind to ensure both you and your best friend have a safe and boo-tiful time this Halloween! 

Halloween can be a frightening and stressful time for your pets. As a pet owner, you know your pet best, but here are some points to consider for your pet's safety.

• Continual doorbell ringing and people at the door (in costume, no less!) can be stressful for a pet. Some pets may experience stress-related diarrhea or potentially injure themselves if crated or otherwise contained. Keep your pet in a quiet and safe place on Halloween.
• Watch your pet around strangers in costume -- some animals may become unexpectedly aggressive or fearful, even normally friendly pets.
• Candles and Jack-O'-Lanterns within a pet's range are a fire hazard. Wagging tails and frightened cats zooming through the house can easily tip over a candle or carved pumpkin, causing burns or a fire.
• Candy - many pets have a sweet tooth. General overindulgence, chocolate, and plastic/cardboard candy-filled toys can cause serious medical problems!
• Keep your pets indoors on Halloween night, especially black cats. Animals are at risk for cruel treatment by some Halloween pranksters.

Look at all of that candy!  For many people, Halloween = candy. Please warn children not to share their goodies with the family pet:

• Chocolate is toxic to pets. Granted, a 50 pound dog would have to eat about 50 ounces of milk chocolate (but only 5 ounces of baking chocolate) for a toxic dose, but much smaller amounts can cause vomiting and diarrhea. Signs of chocolate toxicity include tremors, nervousness, vomiting, diarrhea, increased heart rate, and in severe cases, seizures and death. If you suspect that your pet has eaten chocolate, consult your veterinarian right away!
• Other candies, such as lollipops and those with plastic components, pose a danger if ingested. Lollipop sticks and plastic parts can cause intestinal obstruction and potentially rupture the intestines, which is a life-threatening emergency.

Halloween costumes for pets have been around for many years.  While the costumes can be entertaining for us, caution is advised before dressing up your pet.

• A pet in costume should NEVER be left alone and unsupervised. Some pets, if left alone in costume, may chew it up and ingest it. This could cause intestinal obstruction if more than small shreds of material are consumed.
• Tight elastics on the costumes can get lost in the pet's hair, potentially causing owners to overlook them, leading to swelling and pain in the area of the elastic. And, if the costumed pet escapes or is frightened away, the costume could entangle the pet on trees, fences, etc.

Play it safe and have fun:  With a little caution and some common sense, Halloween can be a fun time for all. Remember if you see or suspect any acts of animal cruelty, please call us!

By the way - tickets are still available for HAWS Halloween Howl II on Friday, October 31st.  Join us for a spooktacular evening to benefit the animals and programs at HAWS.

From a recent press release out of our marketing office... 

The Humane Animal Welfare Society (HAWS) of Waukesha County, Inc. reminds everyone that relief from the woes and the stresses of life these days can be very simple:   take a cue from man's best friend.

"Pets provide so many benefits for us on a personal level," states Lynn Olenik, HAWS Executive Director.  "Just being responsible for the life of a pet can give us something positive to focus on.  Pets are friends and entertainers - even built-in exercise programs.  When the dog needs a walk, or the cat needs play time, we go - and it really helps us, too."

According to the Humane Society for the United States (HSUS), it is well known that relaxed, happy people do not become ill as often as those who suffer from stress and depression.  Animal companionship helps lower a person's blood pressure and cholesterol levels.  Studies have shown that having a dog increases survival rates in groups of patients who have suffered cardiac arrest.   

Dog walking and pet grooming also can provide increased physical activity that can strengthen the heart, improve blood circulation, and slow the loss of bone tissue.

Those who are not able to have a pet of their own can volunteer at HAWS and still reap the rewards.  "We are always looking for dog walkers or cat and small animal socializers," notes Olenik.  "The animals here at HAWS and our volunteers both benefit greatly from the time."

"Just having a pet in your life can offer a sense of well-being and encouragement," continues Olenik.  "They often provide the reason to get up in the morning - and remind us that life goes on and that we have much to be thankful for.  Life's simple pleasures are still available!"

By the way - tickets are still available for HAWS Halloween Howl II - RSVP by October 25th and enjoy a "spooktacular" evening all to benefit the animals and programs at HAWS!