*Fasten your tree securely to the wall with wire, particularly if your pet has been known to try to climb the tree. Unstable trees can cause serious injury if they fall on your pet.

*Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Christmas candles can burn pets or cause a fire if pets accidently knock them over. Carefully supervise pets when candles are lit or use flameless candles.

*Hang ornaments high on the tree and pinch wire hangers tightly around branches if your pet enjoys playing with low-hanging ornaments. Use short loops of ribbon in place of wire ornament hangers and unbreakable ornaments for increased safety.

*Keep tinsel and garland out of your pet’s reach. Both can cause digestive and choking problems if swallowed.

*Don’t add aspirin to the water in your Christmas tree holder. Aspirin could seriously sicken or kill your pet.

*Make sure holiday collars, hats or other petwear, such as antlers, don’t have any loose parts that your pet could swallow, such as bells. Supervise dogs and cats closely if they are wearing collars with bells. Bells can be chewed off and swallowed, and the edges of the bells can cut pets’ tongues.

*Keep holiday plants away from pets. Most pet owners have heard that poinsettias are dangerous to pets. While these plants can cause nausea and vomiting, they aren’t quite as dangerous as once thought, although you should take care to keep poinsettia plants out of the reach of your pets. Eating holly plants or berries can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhea, while ingesting mistletoe, particularly mistletoe berries, can cause gastrointestinal problems, slow heart rate and cardiac collapse.

*Put amaryllis, narcissus and other plants in the lily and daffodil families out of the reach of pets. Plants in the lily families are particularly toxic to cats and can cause gastrointestinal problems, abnormal heart rhythms, kidney failure, convulsions or death. Eating daffodil plants or bulbs can cause a toxic reaction in both dogs and cats.

*Don’t let pets eat foods containing chocolate. Chocolate contains theobromine, a chemical that can be toxic to pets. While you should keep all types of chocolate from your pet, semi-sweet and dark chocolate, frequently used to make chocolate chip cookies and other treats, contains the highest amount of theobromine. The severity of the symptoms varies depending on the amount eaten, but can include irritability, excitability, increased heart rate or urination, vomiting, diarrhea and death.

*Place electrical and extension cords out of your pet’s reach. To discourage chewing, camouflage cords or slit a piece of PVC tubing and place the cords inside. Biting an extension cord sends 110 volts of electricity throughout your pet’s body and can result in death.

*Don’t give your pet hollow bones, such as turkey or chicken bone, which can cause choking or can puncture the intestinal tract. Onions, both raw and cooked, can sicken your pets and cause Heinz Body Anemia in cats.

Tip: It’s easy to overlook potential dangers in your home, particularly from your vantage point. Sitting on the floor or crawling around the room can help you spot potential hazards. If your pet does happen to swallow a potentially dangerous substance, call your veterinarian immediately.

* Put animals in a quiet secure room away from Halloween activities.

*Ask family members to wait until they leave your home before putting on masks. Explain to your children that family pets won’t necessarily recognize them in a mask.

*Never leave pets outdoors, even in a fenced backyard.  Pets have been stolen from porches and backyards by Halloween pranksters. Take special care if you own a black cat. (WHS does not adopt black cats during Halloween week for this reason.)

*Think long and hard before taking your dog trick-or-treating with you. While people wearing mask are one concern, you pet may also be frightened by the spooky sights or sounds of Halloween displays.

*If your children go trick or treating, make sure they know the signs that a dog could attack:  ears held back, teeth bared, fur standing on end or growling.

Poisoned animals will stagger around as if they are drunk. Vomiting may occur and the animal may seem to lack energy or seem depressed. Prompt veterinary treatment is essential to increase the chances of an animal surviving antifreeze poisoning.

You can prevent antifreeze poisoning by keeping antifreeze containers out of the reach of pets and children and by wiping up spills and leaks promptly. Snow globes also contain some antifreeze and should be cleaned up immediately if they break.

Several companies offer less toxic varieties of antifreeze, including Sierra, Prestone LowTox and Sta-Clean. While these types of antifreeze are safer, they can still cause poisoning if large quantities are ingested, and it is important to immediately clean up spills from the this type of antifreeze too. If you plan to use one of these less toxic types of antifreeze, you must first have the old antifreeze flushed out of your radiator. If you don’t, the old and new antifreeze will mix together and still be poisonous.

This handsome boy has been with us since May and we’d really like to see him find a new home. He is only 3 years old, neutered and likes children.  Stop by the Society on Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. or on Wednesday from 1 p.m. – 7 p.m. to see Dustin.  Visit our website for more details on adoptions.

Use clean, empty jugs to store the water your pet normally drinks. Having water on hand will allow you to provide water for your pet if your water supply isn’t available or if you must evacuate.

Also, make sure you have enough pet food to last at least one week. Providing the same type of food and water you always serve your pet can help prevent an upset stomach or diarrhea. Even if you aren’t evacuated, your area may experience an electricity outage that closes stores. Stores may also not receive deliveries on a normal schedule, which may make it hard to find your pet’s preferred brand of food.

If any of your pets, including dogs, cats, rabbits, horses, etc., usually spend most of their days outside, bring them inside well in advance of the hurricane. Make sure all of your pets have collars or tags with identification.

Put together an evacuation kit that contains food, water, non-electric can opener, medication, litter, leashes, flashlight, litter box and any other essentials.  If you must leave your home, having an evacuation kit will make it easier to leave quickly without forgetting anything your pet needs. Keep crates and carriers near the evacuation kit. Include a recent photograph of your pet in the kit. If you and your pet become separated, you can use the photograph to make flyers.

Stay safe and please evacuate if you are asked to do so. We want both you and your pets to get through the hurricane unharmed!

“An unrestrained 10-pound dog in a crash at only 30 mph will exert roughly 300 pounds of pressure, while an unrestrained 80-pound dog in a crash at only 30 mph will exert approximately 2,400 pounds of pressure. Imagine the devastation that can cause to your pet and anyone in its path,” said Jennifer Huebner-Davidson, AAA National, Traffic Safety Programs manager.

Pets can also distract a driver. Fifty-two percent of survey respondents reported petting their dog while driving, 23 percent used their arms or hands to hold their dog in place while applying brakes and 19 percent used their hands or arms to keep their dog from climbing into the front seat.

Other distracting behaviors drivers admitted to include reaching into the back seat to interact with their dog (18 percent), allowing their dog to sit in their lap or holding their dog (17 percent), giving food or treats (13 percent) and 3 percent have taken a photo of their dog while driving. These behaviors can distract the driver and increase the risk of a crash. The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that looking away from the road for only two seconds doubles your risk of being in a crash.

The Women’s Humane Society recommends using pet restraints to keep both people and pets safe and reduce the risk of accidents.