Follow these tips to keep your pets and others safe on Halloween:

¢ Pets are safest inside the home when trick-or-treaters come calling.

¢ Keep pets away from the front door and in a separate room. Pets, especially dogs, are easily excitable or threatened by strangers.

¢ Don’t share any candy with pets, especially chocolate. Candy is toxic for animals and can cause vomiting, restlessness, heart disturbances and even death. If you suspect your pet has eaten chocolate or other candy that causes discomfort, consult your veterinarian immediately.

¢ Owners of black cats should take extra precautions by confining the feline to the house several days before Halloween. This will reduce the chances of someone abducting your black cat. Even kids who mean no harm may yell at or chase a black cat.

¢ If you dress your pet in a costume, make sure its vision is not obstructed. The costume should not constrict the animal’s movement, hearing or ability to breathe or bark. Costumes should not have small, dangling or easily chewed-off pieces that your pet can choke on.

¢ Keep pets away from lighted jack-o-lanterns. Curious kittens especially run the risk of getting burned.

¢ Make sure your cat or dog wears a current tag on its collar. If your pet is lost, it is 10 times more likely to be returned to you if it has a license tag.