Organizers for the Family, Fur & Fun Festival on Oct. 17 at Exploration Park at Mountain’s Edge and co-sponsor West Charleston Animal Hospital want to remind pet owners about Halloween, general care and other holiday tips to keep pets safe and healthy. They include:
- Don’t leave pets outside unattended around Halloween time. Pets, especially black cats, are at risk for pranks.
- Costumes should be optional and not forced. If your pet does wear a costume, make sure the costume doesn’t interfere with the animal’s ability to breath, see, hear, move or bark.
- Keep sweet treats away from pets, especially chocolate. Mistletoe and Poinsettias are also very toxic for them.
- Place jack-o-lanterns and other decorations out of your pet’s reach. A pet could tip over a lit pumpkin or chew on cords.
- Keep your pet in a quiet area. Even the friendliest dogs can get spooked or upset from doorbells, knocking on the door and costumed trick-or-treaters.
- Make sure your pet has a microchip or tag in case it gets spooked and runs away. This can be crucial to a pet’s return home.
These general safety tips will keep your pet healthy and safe throughout the year:
- The City of Las Vegas requires pets over the age of 4 months to be spayed or neutered to help them live longer and healthier lives, decrease unwanted aggression and allow for better attention during training.
- Pets’ primary “cooling system” is their lungs. Leaving pets in parked vehicles, especially during extreme weather, makes it difficult for them to stay cool because they’re breathing hot air.
- Keep leashes and collars near an exit for fast and easy access during emergencies, such as a fire.
- Be prepared for disasters by having a kit with essential pet supplies and a list of pet-friendly hotels and motels in case of an emergency evacuation.
Learning how to care for pets is just as important as spending time with them, and the Family, Fur & Fun Festival combines both in addition to highlighting the need to support abused, abandoned and neglected animals. A variety of booths and activities include the Halloween Pet Costume Contest, fostering and adoption opportunities, kids’ activities, raffle with great prizes, food and refreshments, agility and flyball demonstrations, agility course for pets and their owners, USA Sevens Rugby demonstrations and more.
The free event is 10 a.m. to 3p.m at Exploration Park in the Mountain’s Edge Master Planned Community, located at 9600 S. Buffalo Dr., just south of Blue Diamond Rd.
For information and participation opportunities, visit www.familyfurandfun.com, call 702-595-0644, or email info@familyfurandfun.com.
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