Written By: Alison Huntley

Ahh, Halloween! A fun filled day for children and adults alike. But pets? Not so much. Strange costumes, constant outdoor commotion, and an abundance of dangerous candy in the house can make Halloween a stressful night for our four-legged friends.

“A dog’s natural instinct is to protect their home or to alert you that a stranger has arrived,” reminds Amy Nichols, Vice President of Companion Animals and Equine Protection at the Humane Society of the United States. “And cats typically prefer a quiet environment with their family. Trick-or-treaters continually knocking on the door or ringing the bell can be very stressful to both dogs and cats.”