Halloween tips for pets
Halloween can be frightening for some companion animals. Unfamiliar people, costumes, doorbells and unexpected noise can cause stress, particularly for cats and dogs who are nervous around visitors.
A few simple steps can help keep your pets feeling safe:
Create a safe space. Keep pets in a quiet room away from the front door, with familiar bedding, water and somewhere to hide if they feel worried.
Keep treats out of reach. Chocolate, lollies and sweets containing xylitol can be dangerous to pets. Keep all Halloween treats securely stored, and remind children not to share their goodies with animals.
Reduce noise and disruption. Consider closing curtains, playing gentle background music and keeping pets away from the door to minimise excitement and stress.
Keep pets secure. Frequent visitors mean more opportunities for pets to slip outside. Make sure doors and gates are secure, and that your pet’s microchip registration details on the NZ Companion Animal Register are up to date.
Not welcoming trick-or-treaters to your door? We’ve included posters below that you can display to let visitors know you’re not participating in Halloween this year. This can help reduce doorbell ringing and unexpected visitors, making the evening calmer for you and your pets. They display our NZCAR and LostPet logos as we know these events can sometimes lead to pets running away - so ensuring you can be reunited is so important.
