The Houston SPCA encourages pet parents to take the following precautions to make sure their pet is safe and healthy this Halloween.

Identification. Make sure your pet is wearing a collar and identification tag and / or microchipped with current information. If they escape out an open door and become lost, this info is their ticket home.

Leave your pet indoors. Avoid taking your pet trick or treating. Even the most well tempered dog may panic and become aggressive if a ghost or goblin jumps out of the bushes. Instead, keep your pet in a quiet room, away from the noise and excitement.

Say "NO" to sweets. Chocolate can be toxic to your pets, especially dogs. Xylitol, the artificial sweetener found in some candy can be poisonous to dogs as well. Loose candy wrappers made of aluminum foil or cellophane can cause intestinal blockage and vomiting.

Decoration Dangers. Keep decorations out of your pet's reach. Lighted candles pose an obvious threat. Ribbons, streamers, electrical cords, confetti, and those fake cobwebs can all be dangerous if ingested by a curious pet.

Costumes. As cute as it may be to dress up your pet, costumes can restrict an animal's ability to bark, breathe, move, see or hear. Opt for something easy and fun like a Halloween bandana.

Keeping your pet indoors is especially important around Halloween. Although cats of all colors are at risk of being mistreated, black and white cats and their association with the supernatural may be direct targets of being teased, chased and even abused. The Houston SPCA will allow adoptions of black and white cats in the days prior and immediately following Halloween. However, adopted cat(s) will be available for pick-up on Sunday, November 2, 2008 and thereafter. No exceptions will be made as we believe potential adopters will adhere to a policy which will protect their cats from harm.