Person 1: Well, this weekend it’s definitely going to be filled with goblins stopping by and treats galore but sometimes all that activity can really be scary for our pets. Rhiannon with Better’s pet lifestyle and wellness expert, Jenn Fedal, to make sure we and our pets are all ready for Halloween.
Person 2: That’s right, Audra. Today, we’re talking keeping your dogs safe during Halloween. And for those of you with pets, you know the festivities can really mean trouble for your four-legged friend. And Jenn is here with Parker who is so darn cute. Parker is so well behaved.
Person 3: Yes, he’s been like this since he was a baby.
Person 2: So we’re talking about keeping your pets safe, your dog specifically.
Person 3: Right.
Person 2: Which is really important this time of year.
Person 3: It is. You know, all of the animal shelters usually get the most missing dogs on Halloween and a few other holidays. So, there’s a few things you can do to just really keep them safe and keep them inside during the evening of Halloween.
Person 2: Okay, let’s talk about some of those things. First off, it’s Halloween, you know, if you have an outsider, you know, cat or dog.
Person 3: Right.
Person 2: You actually want to bring him in.
Person 3: You do want to bring them in because this is the night where people like to play pranks and jokes and sometimes do really mean things. So, if you have a dog or cat, bring them inside, you don’t want someone opening your gate and letting your dog have free range of the neighborhood.
Person 2: Yes.
Person 3: Or doing maybe something to your cat.
Person 2: Yeah, great idea. So when you bring them in the house should you just let them have free reign?
Person 3: No, you know, make a comfort zone for them. Pick a room in your home that’s maybe the furthest away from the door. Close the door, keep their bedding inside.
Person 2: Okay, make them feel snuggle.
Person 3: Make them feel all of your favorite things, so their bedding, their treats, their toys, extra water.
Person 2: Okay, so keep them in a separate room. That’s a great idea.
Person 3: Absolutely.
Person 2: So at this time of year, we know we always have candles all over the house. You know, we’re decorating things like that. That can be big trouble for a cat or a dog.
Person 3: It can. Because you know how are dogs and cats, they barrel with the house like a bullet in --. And if we have things that they’re level they can easily knock them down with their tail or with their body.
Person 2: So you have a solution here. That’s a nice deal.
Person 3: Yeah, I loved this candle from --, it’s flameless. And it is powered by a light bulb; you plug into your wall, put a wax piece on the top and it melts and it’s very safe. So if your pet does knock it over, it’s not going to turn into a fire.
Person 2: It’s not going to hurt Parker here.
Person 3: It’s not going to hurt Mr. Parker absolutely.
Person 2: So what about candy, we’ve all heard that chocolate is bad for our four-legged friends.
Person 3: Yeah, it’s not only bad, it’s actually toxic. It can be lethal in certain dozes. So stay away from chocolate absolutely if you want to have, give your dog that sugary nice taste, -- is a good alternate.
Person 2: Okay, so we have to talk about costumes for your pet, Parker, looks so cute. He’s a little cow.
Person 3: Yeah, he’s a little cow. He’s a on a little cow outfit from Pet Smart. And if you’re going to dress your pet, which is fine and great for a lot of pets, make sure that it fits properly. Air on the side of a larger costume than a smaller costume. They’re going to generate more heat so keep plenty of water around. Don’t keep the costume on for hours on end and if they absolutely hate it, don’t make them wear.
Person 2: Yeah, I and this is like a little alternative.
Person 3: That’s an alternative, yeah.
Person 2: I mean, that full costume but just something festive to put around their neck. It’s a little party color or bandana is even good too.
Person 2: Thank you so much, all great tips for keeping your pets safe during Halloween, Audra, back to you.
Person 1: Great tips, ladies. Thank you so much. We want to keep our pups safe and remember to check our website for all things Halloween from fun party food to creative decorating ideas. Just head to www.bettertv.com and click on the videos. We’ll be right back.