Harrowing Halloween
Holiday fun can stress both dogs, cats alike

"Do you want to hear something really scary?" How many of us have heard that question asked during the Halloween season? I would like to share with you probably the scariest animal story I ever heard. The source of this story is my mother, and she told it to me a few years ago.
My mother came from a small village in Ireland and was a most superstitious person. She would not allow peacock feathers in the house because she truly believed that they contained the "evil eye." We were never allowed to cross silverware at the dinner table, as it would bring bad luck. If a picture fell from the wall before dinner, she would set an extra place because she knew that an unexpected guest would soon show up for dinner.
One night several years ago, she and my father were spending a quite evening at home. Earlier that day she had found a Ouija Board that one of my sisters had brought home. Mom was not too happy to have such a thing in the house. But when my father began kidding her about her view on "things unknown" and dared her to see if the board held any power, my mom gave in and decided to give it a try. They placed their hands on the small plastic planchette and sat quietly for a few minutes. My dad then asked, "Spirits, are you there?" Nothing happened. Again he asked the question. Slowly the pointer moved to "YES!" This unnerved my mom, but my dad challenged, "Oh yeah, prove it!" The pointer moved around the board spelling out the sentence "L O O K A T T H E C A T." My parents looked at each other and then at the cat, who had been sleeping quietly on the couch. Suddenly the cat jumped up with his hair standing up on his back, gave out a terrible hiss and hightailed it out of the room. That same evening, my mother made my father dig a hole in the back yard where they doused the Ouija board in gasoline and burned it.
I am not sure if this story is true, but I should add one more thing. To this day, no grass has ever grown back where my parents burned and buried the board, and my dear mother would never go near that spot. Scary, huh?
Although the above story might be scary, Halloween is meant to be a fun time for kids. But it can be a frightening and stressful time for your pets. You know your pet best, but there are some precautions you should consider for your pet's safety. Here are some pointers from Dr. Mike Bomar, a local veterinarian who is really a big kid at heart. Bomar warns:

• Continual doorbell ringing and people at the door can be stressful for a cat or dog. Some pets may experience stress-related diarrhea or potentially injure themselves if crated or otherwise contained. Keep your pet in a quiet and safe place on Halloween.
• Watch your pet around strangers in costume. Even normally friendly pets may become fearful or unexpectedly aggressive if startled by strange "beings."
• Candles and Jack-o'-lanterns within a pet's range are a fire hazard.
• Keep your pets indoors on Halloween night, especially black cats. Animals are at risk for cruel treatment by some

Halloween pranksters. Many adoption agencies and humane societies will not allow adoption of black cats around Halloween for this reason. If you witness or suspect any acts of animal cruelty, please call your local animal shelter or police department.
Bomar is quick to point out that chocolate is toxic to pets. Children should not share their candy with Fido or Morris. A 50-pound dog would have to eat about 50 ounces of milk chocolate (but only 5 ounces of baking chocolate) for a toxic dose, but much smaller amounts can cause vomiting and diarrhea. Signs of chocolate toxicity include tremors, nervousness, vomiting, diarrhea, increased heart rate, and in severe cases, seizures and death. If you suspect that your pet has eaten chocolate, consult your veterinarian. Bomar also warns that other candies, such as lollipops and those with plastic components, pose a danger if eaten by a pet. Lollipop sticks, wrappers and plastic parts can cause intestinal obstruction and potentially rupture the intestines, which is a life-threatening emergency.
And what about those cute costumes for pets? Bomar advises that you should follow a few simple guidelines if you want to dress up your dog or cat. He cautions:

• A pet in costume should NEVER be left alone and unsupervised. Pets, if left alone in costume, may chew it up and ingest it. This could cause intestinal obstruction.
• Tight elastics on the costumes can get lost in the pet's hair, causing owners to overlook them. These bands could lead to swelling and pain in the area of the elastic.
• If the costumed pet escapes or is frightened away, the costume could entangle the pet on trees, fences, etc.
• Make sure that your pet does not become overheated if in costume. Some breeds, like Bulldogs, can have a difficult time breathing if they become too hot and may die if not given proper attention.
  So use caution and some common sense this Halloween season and help make it fun time for kids and pets alike. Parents, make sure that your kids carry a flashlight and that your pets are on a leash. Drivers, be sure to watch out for the little ones, both two- and four-legged, if you are going to be driving around on All Hallows Eve. God Bless.

Costume contests
Petco will have a pet costume contest at 2:30 p.m. Saturday. There will be prizes for best costumes. Celebrity judges include Becky and Brad from KLUR, Ted Buss from the Times Record News and Dr. Joe Wurster of the "Doctor Joe and the Dog Man Radio Show. There will be a $1 entry fee that will go to animal charities.

Atwoods will hold its sixth annual Pet Costume Contest at 2 p.m. Oct. 28. Six pet-food sponsors have donated more than $2,000 in pet food for prizes. Pets will be classed into four weight categories and the top four places in each category will earn a prize. Any pet is eligible, but must be a leash or contained. All entries will receive free pet treats. There will also be a Most Unusual Pet category.