Yuki is Kristen Seymour’s oldest dog and will be writing a few posts for us on how to be a greener pet owner. She and her little sister, Rudi, are both black lab mix rescues and are big fans of the outdoors. While Rudi is mostly interested in chasing lizards and examining poop, Yuki is a little more refined, enjoying the feel of the breeze through her fur, the sun on her face, and — wait! Did someone say squirrel? SQUIRREL! I love this time of year — the weather is cool enough for long walks without Mom complaining about sweating through her clothes, and the squirrels are out in full force. Everyone is getting ready for the holidays, starting with Halloween, but not everyone realizes that Halloween isn’t quite the same event for dogs as it is for kids. In fact, Halloween can be a pretty scary time for us dogs. You have to keep in mind that we don’t understand why everyone is dressed strangely, and we really don’t understand why you’re putting weird costumes on us. I’m not saying anyone should avoid the fun because of their pet — not at all! — but, I do think pet owners should be aware of these tips for a safe and happy Howl-o-ween:
- Many dogs will not be comfortable with being out and about during trick-or-treating, and if that’s the case with your pooch (because it is with me!), make sure to get your walk in early. And, if you plan to take your pup trick-or-treating with you, make sure to have an escape plan in case he gets scared and needs to go home.
- Even if you’re staying home and handing out candy, consider keeping your dog in a different room. Lots of dogs get excited and sneak out the door when it’s opened for the little costumed munchkins.
- Obviously, don’t give your pet candy. But, also make sure everyone in your home (including guests) knows how dangerous it is for dogs to have candy. Even if you’re serving healthy (human) treats, be careful about treating your pooch with them — lots of healthful human food isn’t safe for dogs. Stock up on dog treats if you’re worried about leaving your dog out. As a matter of fact, you should always stock up on dog treats. Always.
- As far as pet costumes go, I’m not going to say don’t do it. I like wearing something special — you should see me prance around and show off how pretty I am when I wear a bandana! But, never EVER leave a costume on your pet when you’re not around, and make sure you’re paying attention to your pet while he’s wearing anything out of the ordinary — it can cause injury and even death if the wrong part cuts into his skin or gets wrapped around his neck. As with children, make sure your four-legged friend can see, hear, and breath with no problems.
- Finally, be careful with decorations — remember, we can’t always control our tails (it’s just that you make us so happy!), so make sure candles and jack-o-lanterns are out of our reach.
Tonic Pet of the Week: Dolly
Dolly is Tonic contributor Cat Lincoln’s in-laws’ pooch who comes to visit Cat and her husband on occasion. As Cat says, “she’s all little and foxy-looking, and has a fluffy tail that’s like a celebration. Then you take her outside and discover she has a black, black heart and hates other dogs, anything smaller than a car with wheels, birds, the infirm, and children,” all of which only makes Cat love her more.
They don’t know quite what kind of dog(s) Dolly is, (and if Dolly knows, she’s not telling) and they believe her to be around six or seven years old. She was adopted from the The Milo Foundation, and fully recommend checking out the other adoptable animals there if you’re in the Bay Area. Just don’t bring them near her.