Pets need protection on Halloween

While pint-sized ghosts, pirates and fairy princesses are usually the focus of Halloween, experts warn that family pets shouldn’t be forgotten on this legendary scary night.

"Try to keep tabs on all pets on Halloween," said Sgt. Frank Bongiorno, of the Los Angeles County Animal Control Department in Agoura Hills.

"Animals shouldn’t be outside. They can become disoriented by foot traffic, kids, costumes and lanterns," he said.

He also warned not to share the Halloween candy with pets. Chocolate can be deadly to dogs, he said.

It’s L.A. County policy not to adopt out black cats for two weeks prior to Halloween because of all the folklore that goes with them, Bongiorno said.

Madeline Bernstein, president of the SPCALA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Los Angeles), agreed with Bongiorno.

"We started the trend of not adopting black cats out around Halloween," she said.

"Black cats carry their own (superstitions) of bad luck … cult types have been known to use them for animal sacrifice," she said.

Another reason black cats won’t be available around Halloween is because they’re sometimes used just for the night—as accessories, decorations or to create a mood—and then abandoned, Bernstein said.

Generally, it’s not a good idea to leave a cat outdoors at any time, but especially Halloween night, said Bernstein.

"Halloween is a bad night for pranks," she said.

Bernstein cautioned that dogs also face risks at Halloween. She advised not sending the family dog out with the kids for trick-or-treating, because they could get scared by something and run away, or bolt off the leash and get hit by a car.

"On Halloween night, lock the cats and dogs in a room away from the front door," she said.

In the event that something does happen, pet owners should be prepared, Bernstein advised.

Make sure that pets have identification tags and are current in their vaccinations, even house cats, in case they get lost and end up in a shelter, she said.

—Sharon Makokian