The County of Los Angeles Department of Animal Care & Control would like to call your attention to this important Halloween message to keep your pets safe and stress-free this time of the year.  Halloween can be a scary time, especially for your pets.  Please think twice before including your pet in Halloween festivities.

Pets are sensitive to sudden changes in your household.  Excitement, loud noises, and strange sounds can be terrifying to your pet.  During Halloween, “scary” is fun for people, but your pet may instead feel threatened.  Threatened pets may decide to run away to duck for cover or may bite someone when confused.

This problem can be worsened when taking pets to gatherings where crowds of people gather for Halloween celebrations.  You are likely to become distracted and with all the commotion, your pet is subject to being stepped on, stolen, or can become the victim of a Halloween prank.  Remember, chocolate is poison to your pet!  You may not even realize that your pet was eating that candy on the ground!

Please keep your pets safe and leave them at home.  Your pets will thank you later.