Halloween can be an exciting time for people, but for pets, it can come with some serious risks. Pet care facilities must be especially cautious during the Halloween season, where toxic treats, hazardous decorations, and increased stress levels can pose threats to the pets in your care. Here’s how to keep pets safe while maintaining smooth operations in your facility.
1. Toxic Treats
Candy is a big part of Halloween, but many of these treats are dangerous for pets. Chocolate is toxic to dogs and cats, and sugar-free candy containing xylitol can cause life-threatening drops in blood sugar for pets, especially dogs.
What to do:
- Remind pet owners to keep all candy out of reach when they drop off their pets.
- If you’re offering any Halloween-themed treats at your facility, ensure they’re made with pet-safe ingredients and are clearly labeled.
- Use Kennel Connection’s client messaging system to send out alerts or reminders about Halloween candy dangers and pet-safe treat options.
2. Hazardous Decorations
Halloween decorations can be fun, but they can also pose dangers to pets. Fake cobwebs, string lights, and small decorations can be tempting to chew on, while candles can cause burns or start fires if knocked over.
What to do:
- Choose decorations that are pet-friendly and avoid placing them within pets’ reach.
- Replace open-flame candles with battery-operated or flameless alternatives to minimize fire risks.
- Keep track of any incidents where pets may interact with decorations using Kennel Connection’s incident reporting feature, ensuring staff stay informed about potential risks.
3. Costumes: Fun or Frightening?
While costumes are a fun Halloween tradition, not all pets enjoy dressing up. Costumes that are too tight, restrictive, or have loose parts can cause discomfort or choking hazards.
What to do:
- Make sure costumes fit well and are safe for pets. For pets that don’t tolerate costumes, try simple bandanas or collars.
- Record costume preferences or sensitivities in each pet’s profile using Kennel Connection’s customizable pet notes, ensuring staff knows which pets should avoid costumes altogether.
- Monitor pets closely when they’re in costume and remove the outfit immediately if they seem stressed or uncomfortable.
4. Noise and Overstimulation
The constant ringing of doorbells, new visitors, and spooky costumes can overwhelm pets, leading to anxiety and stress. This can result in behavioral issues, such as excessive barking or even aggression.
What to do:
- Create quiet areas in your facility where pets can retreat if they become overstimulated.
- Play calming music or white noise to mask external sounds and create a more soothing environment.
- Use Kennel Connection to track pets with a history of anxiety and create calming care routines for them during busy periods. Staff can be alerted to these special needs with ease.
Learn more about how kennel software can improve the customer experience.
5. Increased Escape Risks
With the increased foot traffic during Halloween, doors are likely to open and close more frequently, which could increase the risk of pets escaping. Busy times require extra vigilance to prevent accidents.
What to do:
- Use Kennel Connection’s check-in and check-out feature to ensure every pet is accounted for, making it easy to track who’s always entering and leaving the facility.
- Log any escape attempts or incidents with Kennel Connection to monitor patterns and ensure your facility stays secure.
- Ensure that all pets have updated ID tags and are secured properly when entering or leaving the facility.
By staying alert to these Halloween hazards and leveraging the tools available in Kennel Connection, your facility can maintain a safe and stress-free environment for pets. With customizable features to track each pet’s needs and manage operations efficiently, you can enjoy the Halloween season knowing the pets in your care are protected.
