Pet tips and resources
Regional Animal Services of King County provides the following information as a public service. Check with your veterinarian for specific advice about your pet's health and well-being.
Halloween holiday safety tips

Halloween is "spook-tacular" for kids of all ages, but the holiday can be pretty scary for our pets. Regional Animal Services of King County would like to remind pet owners of a few safety tips before the ghosts and goblins come begging on October 31.
- Never feed candy to your pet, especially chocolate. If you suspect your dog or cat has gotten into Halloween treats, contact your veterinarian right away.
- Costumes can be scary to some pets. If your pet is easily spooked by strangers or loud noises, consider keeping them safe in a pet crate or confined to a quiet room while trick-or-treaters are out. Also, if your pet is normally kept outside, consider bringing them inside on Halloween, or keep them in your garage or basement during the festivities.
- Although they look cute, many pets don't enjoy being dressed up for Halloween. If you do put your pet in a costume, make sure it doesn't interfere with their vision, breathing, or movement, and remove any parts that could be chewed off and present a hazard.
- Since they can escape when you open the door for trick-or-treaters, be sure your pet is wearing a collar with a license and ID tag securely attached. You may also consider microchipping your cat or dog. Check with your veterinarian about this service.
- If your pet does get loose, check with all local shelters and animal rescue groups, as scared pets can sometimes travel long distances. You can file a report at kingcounty.gov/LostAPet. If you find a pet wandering in your neighborhood, you can find tips and information at kingcounty.gov/FoundAPet.
Animal resources
RASKC is pleased to share these behavior and wellness resources from nationally recognized animal welfare organizations. You can also find more resources on our Pet Assistance Program page.
Dogs
- Your new dog
- Aggressive behavior
- Barking
- Destructive chewing
- Crate training
- Dog reactivity
- Fearful behavior
- House training
- Introducing dog to dog
- Loose leash walking
- Preventing jumping
- Resource guarding
- Separation anxiety
- Interacting safely with dogs
- Children and dogs
- Under-socialized dogs
- Dog enrichment
Wildlife
RASKC values our animal welfare partner, Progressive Animal Welfare Society (PAWS). We work closely with PAWS on issues related to pet adoption, animal rehabilitation, and wildlife.
For more information, please visit the PAWS Wildlife Resource Library. You can also visit the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife for information.