It's that time of year again, when the night is filled with ghosts and goblins and things that go 'bump' in the night. It is also a time when our pets can be at a high risk of getting lost, upset or sick.

Here are some common-sense Pet Halloween Safety Tips that you can use to ensure your pets remain safe and happy during the scariest night of the year:

1. Keep your pet inside, secure in a place where he or she cannot bolt out the door when a trick-or-treater comes knocking. If your dog is crate trained you can secure them that way. I usually leave some of our pet's favorite music playing throughout the evening to keep their stress level down. Two very effective albums that I recommend are Celtic Harp for Pets by Margie Butler and Pet Ease by Sharon Russell. Both of these are wonderful for calming and healing during stressful times (and Margie's harp has that same affect on me).
2. Keep all candy and treats out of reach of your pets. Most of you know that chocolate, rasins and even grapes are toxic and can even be fatal to your dog and cat and they should never be fed these things. Other Halloween candy risks include discarded candy, wrappers and sticks that your pup could get ahold of and eat. Keep a watchful on when you go for walks following Halloween.
3. Keep pets away from all holiday decor, especially jack-o-lanterns lit with candles which can easily tip and start a fire.
4. If you own a black cat, make doubly sure to keep him indoors around Halloween. I've heard stories of black cats being harmed and even killed during this time of year. Why take a chance with your cat's safety? Keep him indoors where he'll be safe.
5. Planning on dressing up your pet for Halloween? Many pets don't enjoy being dressed up and can get stressed out when they are. Be considerate of your pet if he/she gets upset. If your pet is fine when he/she is wearing a costume, great. Make sure your pet's costume fits properly and they can see and breathe properly. Make sure they have identification on in the event they somehow get lost.