Trick or doggie treat?

Molly Masland

When 4-year-old Cricket the Pomeranian dons her devil costume, she becomes a different dog. A furry little pooch that looks like a fox, Cricket doesn’t seem to mind the stuffed cotton horns on her head or the red cape tied around her neck. Instead, she picks up her feet and prances around with even more enthusiasm than usual.

Originally rescued from a puppy mill north of Seattle where she was kept as a breeder churning out litter after litter, Cricket now enjoys a cushy life. And partaking in holiday festivities is part of it. Each year at Halloween she steps out in style at costume parties and greets trick-or-treaters at the front door.

While not all pets appreciate being dressed up for Halloween, some, like Cricket, do — or at least they don’t mind — and bask in the extra attention showered on them. Their owners clearly like it, too. So much so that the pet product industry is racing to keep Halloween-related items on store shelves this season.

“We’re already seeing that (retailers) are having trouble keeping up with the demand,” says Bob Vetere of the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association.

From miniature Power Ranger costumes to catnip vampires, there are a myriad of ways for pets to get in on the action this Halloween. But even though many owners are going to great lengths to include their furry friends in the festivities, there are few caveats to keep in mind.

Fun for whom?
While it may be entertaining to us homo sapiens to dress Fido up as our favorite Superhero, it can also pose some potential problems. It goes without saying that many animals don’t really see the fun in costumes.

“Some seem to enjoy getting dressed up in costumes, but others don’t,” says Stephanie Shain, director of outreach for companion animals at the Humane Society of the United States. “If they don’t really like it, let the dog be a dog for Halloween and just dress yourself up.”

As a rule, it’s not a good idea to use costumes that include masks, which can block vision and cause even the most mild-mannered animal to get testy. Costumes with sequins, rubber bands, or small pieces that can be chewed and swallowed, are also best avoided.

And, don’t forget, at some point your pet will need to go to the bathroom. No matter how much time and money you spent on the outfit, he or she probably won’t be too concerned about soiling it.

Tobz Corp. The light-up Polybrite leash and collar, available from Tobz-style.com, can help other trick-or-treaters spot your dog.

Even if Fido isn’t the kind to get all gussied up, he might still be persuaded to wear a Halloween bandana or ribbon, available at many pet stores.

But think twice about taking your dog out trick-or-treating with the kids. The armies of goblins circling the neighborhood could prove overwhelming.

“Even the friendliest dogs can have problems. If the dog is used to looking at human beings and all of a sudden it sees all these weird creatures, it might get a little freaked out," says Shain.

In addition, plenty of children don't like dogs and having a barking animal around could make an already spooky evening a little too scary. In order to minimize the fright factor, try using a collar and leash that light up, such as those made by PolyBrite, which let other trick-or-treaters easily spot your animal and avoid it if they so choose.

If your dog gets easily spooked by strange people coming to the house, especially strange people dressed in costumes, sequester your pet in a quiet room with its favorite toys and possibly a TV or radio to help drown out the noise. Always have an ID collar on your animal and make sure they don't slip out the door when trick-or-treaters arrive.

When it comes to cats, none should ever be allowed outside on Oct. 31. Too many run away after becoming frightened, or fall victim to malicious pranksters, says Shain.

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