MISCELLANEOUS INFO
Halloween Tips
Lawn Chemical Safety Tips For Pets

HSUS TIPS FOR KEEPING PETS SAFE ON HALLOWEEN       

NO SCAREDY CATS THIS HALLOWEEN: SAFETY TIPS FOR PET OWNERS
Attention, companion animal caretakers--The ASPCA offers these common-sense cautions to keep your pets safe and sound during this time of the year:

• Don't leave your pet in the yard on Halloween. There have been stories of vicious pranksters who have teased, injured, stolen and even killed pets on this night.
• All but the most social dogs and cats should be kept in a separate room during peak trick-or-treat visiting hours--too many strangers in unusual garb can be scary and stressful for pets.
• Don't dress up your dog or cat unless you know he or she loves it. If you decide to do so, make sure the costume isn't annoying or unsafe, and doesn't restrict her movement, vision, hearing or ability to breathe or bark. Avoid costumes with small or dangling accessories that she could chew off and possibly choke on.
• When opening the door for trick-or-treaters, take care that Fifi or Fido doesn't dart outside. Make sure they're wearing current identification, just in case.
• Keep all Halloween candy out of your pet's reach. Chocolate can be poisonous to cats, dogs and ferrets, and tin foil and cellophane candy wrappers can be hazardous if swallowed.  Instead, have a few of your pet's favorite treats on hand.
• Don't bring the family dog trick-or-treating with the children. Children may be distracted, and dogs may become difficult to handle during the noise and confusion of the festivities. A lost dog or dog bite will quickly end your child's Halloween fun.
• Although the ASPCA recommends that cats remain indoors at all times, it is especially important to keep your feline inside for several days before and after Halloween. The ASPCA also encourages local shelters not to adopt out black cats during the Halloween season. Unfortunately, during Halloween, black cats are the targets of pranks, mischief or worse- that can put cats at a high risk of being harmed. Black cat owners should be extra careful about keeping their cats safe during this time.

"Halloween can be safe for all members of your family - those with both two and four legs - if you take some simple precautions. So keep your pets safe inside and have a Happy Halloween!"  ASPCA

K-STATE PROFESSORS OFFER LAWN CHEMICAL SAFETY TIPS FOR PETS

Thursday, May 4, 2000

MANHATTAN -- Preparing your lawn for spring and summer often involves fertilizing the grass, but are those chemicals safe for your pets? According to Jack Fry, associate professor of horticulture at Kansas State University, most chemicals are harmless if they are applied according to label directions.

"Most of these products are tested and retested for safety," said Fry. "There shouldn't be a problem if consumers follow the directions on the container. Most lawn chemical products are as safe or safer than many chemicals we use daily inside our homes."

Watering the lawn after application is required with some products. Other products may require the grass to dry before allowing pets or people on the lawn. Children and animals should avoid direct contact with the chemical.

"It is strongly recommended that all chemicals be stored safely away from kids and animals," Fry said. "We store medications in medicine cabinets; likewise, these chemicals also require safe storage."

If a pet does have direct contact with a lawn chemical, the best thing to do is contact the local poison control office and a veterinarian, said John Pickrell, associate professor of diagnostic environmental toxicology medicine in the department of pathobiology at K-State's College of Veterinary Medicine.

"There are literally tens of thousands of lawn chemicals so knowing the ingredients is a big help to determine what should be done for the animal," Pickrell said. "Most lawn fertilizers are made from nontoxic chemicals and are usually not a threat to animals as long as they are used according to label directions. If the lawn pesticide does include a toxic chemical, immediate attention should be given to reduce potential toxic problems that may develop."

A pet owner may suspect a pet has directly consumed toxic chemicals if the animal appears "sick." Pickrell suspects exposure to insecticides if the animal has an increased mobility of the gut, symptoms such as excessive salivation or urination, watery eyes or diarrhea, or nervous signs, such as tremors. Exposures to high levels of insecticides can lead to heart and lung problems and possibly death. Veterinarians can treat the symptoms and possibly save the animal's life.

Pickrell said to avoid over-spraying the chemical and water the lawn to help break the chemical before allowing the pet on the lawn. Like Fry, he also encourages fertilizer users to look at the label and to follow the manufacturer's directions

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