• Keep Your Pets Safe On Halloween

    Posted on October 12th, 2014
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    Halloween is a fun time of year for the family, but the noise and excitement of the night may not be as much fun for your pets. It is important to take extra steps on Halloween to make sure your pets stay safe. Here are some Halloween safety tips from Clear The Air:

    • Keep all Halloween candy and wrappers away from pets to avoid choking or poisining. Chocolate and xylitol (a sweetener in candy) can be very toxic for animals. Have some pet treats on hand to give your pets so they don’t feel left out.
    • Keep your pets inside for their safety even if you are going to be home. Stay with your pet if they need to go outside to use the bathroom to avoid anything harmful that could happen due to a cruel Halloween prank.
    • Find a quiet place in the house for your pets to stay when the trick-or-treaters will be constantly ringing the door bell and making noise. The loud noise and constant strangers at the door may stress your pet out. Also you don’t want your pet to run out the house while the door is constantly being opened up.
    • Halloween decorations should be used where your pets won’t be able to get to them. Pumpkins with candles should not be placed on the floor because they can be easily knocked over or can burn a curious pet.
    • Pet costumes should be non-restrictive and should not have any dangling accessories that pets can choke on if they came off. Supervise your pet while they are in their costume.  If your pet doesn’t seem to be comfortable in a costume then it’s a good idea to just let them go as themselves for Halloween.
    • Make sure your pets are wearing their ID tags in case they get separated or scared and take off. This can be a good time to think about getting your pet microchipped if you haven’t already. It can help bring pets home quicker if they get lost.
  • How To Keep Pets Safe On Halloween

    Posted on October 30th, 2013
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    5 Halloween safety tips for your pets.

    Halloween is just around the corner and as we all like to include our pets in our family activities, it is important to make sure we keep our pets safe and happy on holidays like Halloween.

    Check out Clear the Air’s helpful tips to keeping your pets safe this Halloween:

    • Pet Costumes – The safest pet costume is one that fits loosely and is simple. A bandana around your dog’s neck is perfect. Don’t let your pet’s costume restrict his mobility or allow him to get tangled up or strangled. Always make sure your pet is under your supervision when he has a costume on.
    • Halloween Decorations – When decorating your home, remember to put decorations on display in an area they won’t be easily knocked over or reached from pets. This especially goes for any décor with lit candles.
    • Noises – Pets can be scared and skittish of noises associated with Halloween such as the ringing of the doorbell, squeals and chatter outside the door and any small fireworks that are set off in the street. Additionally, scary costumes can alarm pets.
    • Candy – Candy and chocolates are never a good idea for your pets. On Halloween there is an increased chance your pets may consume treats they aren’t meant to have. Provide your pets with pet-safe treats and toys to keep them entertained and keep all candies away from your pets during the holiday.
    • Runaway Pet – Halloween is not the time to let your pets wander around outside. Keep your dogs on leash and your cats indoors. Unfortunately there are mean-spirited individuals that may be inspired to mess with your pets. This is also a great time to get your pets micro-chipped.
  • The Truth About Black Cats

    Posted on October 24th, 2013
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    Happy Halloween from Clear the Air!

    We always like to encourage families adopt animals from shelters and we especially encourage the adoption of black animals because believe it or not, they are usually the last to get adopted.

    We would like to share an article from the ASPCA regarding the truth about black cats.

    Have you heard the myth that black cats are unsafe in October, in part because witches may try to adopt them for rituals? We sure have. But guess what? Top ASPCA experts agree that it’s just not true.

    Unfortunately, the truth is kinda scary, too: Year-round, black cats are the least likely to get adopted in shelters across the U.S. In fact, black animals in general take more time to find homes, says Gail Buchwald, Senior Vice President of the Adoption Center.

    Aside from the most important reason to adopt black kitties—that they really need extra help finding homes—here are a few reasons to take home one or two:

    • Their fur won’t show on your little black dress.
    • You can tell your kids you adopted a mini panther.
    • Black cats go with everything.
    • In most cultures, black cats are a sign of good luck.
    • You already know black cats are awesome—you have one at home! If you’ve got a great black kitty, tell us about him or her in the comments. You just might persuade someone else to give these felines a little extra attention.
  • Halloween Safety Tips For Pets

    Posted on October 18th, 2012
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    All you need to know for Halloween safety for your pets.

    We like going through Clear the Air’s older blogs and thought this would be useful to share once again with our readers.  The holidays, starting with Halloween, are a fun time but you should take some precautions to make sure your pets are safe and just as happy as you during the holidays.

    Check out our Halloween safety blog from last year:

    Halloween is a fun time for kids and adults, but it can also be scary for animals if you’re not careful. Any holiday brings an increased risk of harm and health problems for animals when candy and decorations are involved, but Halloween can be especially risky for a number of reasons. We encourage everyone to have a safe and fun holiday, but please keep the safety and well-being of your pets in mind!

    Here are some tips to keeping your pet safe during the Halloween season:

    1. Never leave your dog outside unattended – this is a generally safe rule to follow, but it is particularly important on Halloween. It is a sad truth that disturbed individuals have been known to injure and even kill pets on Halloween. No matter how safe your neighborhood may be, Halloween often brings out the pranksters and vandals, so don’t take any chances and keep your dog inside with you where you know he is safe.

    2. Most people will agree that there is nothing cuter than a dog in costume.  However, as appealing as your dolled-up pup may be, it is important to always keep your dog’s happiness, safety and comfort in mind.

    If you are going to put your dog in costume, make sure it fits properly and does not pose a risk of strangulation. Remove any loose accessories that could be choked on such as ribbons or buttons. If your dog seems even the slightest bit uncomfortable, please reconsider your costume choice. A ballerina beagle may look adorable, but your dog does not know why he is wearing the getup and may do whatever it takes to get out of it, including chewing through the fabric.

    3. Everyone knows the best part of Halloween is the candy, but unfortunately this is one of the main reasons that vets see an increase of sick animals around this holiday. Dogs have an incredible sense of smell and will likely notice the increase of sweets in the house. Keep all types of candy away from your dog!

    Most people already know that chocolate is toxic to dogs and can make them very sick. But chocolate is not the only sweet treat that poses a risk. Sugar-free candy contains a chemical called Xylitol that can make dogs severely ill even in small doses. Candy foil and wrappers can be just as harmful, as they can cause choking or a blockage in a dog’s digestive tract. If you have kids, let them know that the dog cannot share their Halloween treats.

    4. If you put up Halloween decorations, be sure to keep them well out of your dog’s reach. Dogs gravitate towards things that are shiny, small and/or inedible – all of which can cause serious health problems! Candles, lights and cords are a huge safety hazard for all pets. A curious dog that gets too close could be burned or electrocuted. A wagging tail can knock over a candle and start a fire in no time at all! Instead of putting a candle in your pumpkin consider using a small battery-powered light, which is safer and lasts longer!

    5. Make sure your dog is in a safe, secure place when the trick-or-treaters come knocking at your door. The continuous knocking or ringing of a doorbell combined with the constant opening and closing of the door will offer plenty of opportunities for your pet to dart out and run away.

    In addition, strangers arriving in spooky masks can be very frightening and could cause even the friendliest dogs to behave aggressive or territorially as a result of stress and fear. To avoid unnecessary stress or unpleasant confrontations with the neighborhood children, I suggest keeping your dog in a separate room. Try leaving a radio or TV on to drown out the sound of the many visitors.

    6. No matter what your friends said in college, a drunk dog is NOT a happy dog. Never ever give any amount of alcohol to any animal. If you think it would be funny to see your dog intoxicated, think again. Alcohol is essentially poison to dogs and can cause symptoms including but not limited to: vomiting, disorientation, seizures, irregular heartbeat, heart attack and death. If you have a party make sure you clean up any leftover drinks, as some dogs are attracted to the sweetness of beer and wine.

    While keeping your family safe during Halloween is always a must, keeping your pets healthy and safe is also essential. If you have kids, I recommend sharing these tips with them so they can learn how to be responsible and keep their beloved pet safe while enjoying the Halloween festivities.  Please safe, be smart and have a very happy Halloween!