Thurber’s Tail: Halloween Safety Tips for Pets

Is the costume comfortable? Does it allow your pet to move freely without constraint? Could a tie or band cause your pet to choke or trip?

AKC says that it is fairly easy to locate and purchase costumes online created specifically for pets, however, that does not necessarily ensure their safety.

“Beads, snaps, buttons, ribbons, elastic and fabric can all be intestinal hazards,” says AKC. “Never purchase costumes for pets that have dangling parts or pieces that can be chewed off.”

AKC further warns that costumes can result in “overheating, impaired vision and even difficulty breathing, if it covers the face or is too restrictive around the pet’s neck or chest.”

One last note on pet costumes: Some pet lovers think the act of dressing up our furry family members in silly costumes can be embarrassing at best and humiliating at worst.

Thurber certainly refuses to dress up for Halloween and he explains why — did I mention Thurber is a talking dog? — in a series of humorous Halloween videos posted at ThurbersTail.com.

Happy Halloween!

Our furry family members should participate in family events as much as any other member of the family, but we need to take extra precautions to be sure they stay safe, happy and healthy.

Let’s conclude my first ThurbersTail.com humor and pet-advice column with this canine-inspired Halloween joke:

Question: What do you call a large dog that is in touch with his inner-most feelings?

Answer: A self-aware-wolf.

Purcell, creator of the infotainment site ThurbersTail.com, which features pet advice he’s learning from his beloved Labrador, Thurber, is a Pittsburgh Tribune-Review humor columnist. Email him at Tom@TomPurcell.com.