We have never seen a more miserable-looking animal. And this pug has good reason to look like that. Please do not humiliate your pets this way. It's cruel.
Posts tagged "halloween"
We have never seen a more miserable-looking animal. And this pug has good reason to look like that. Please do not humiliate your pets this way. It's cruel.
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Recently we posted an article called "6 Ways to Make Halloween Safe and Fun for Your Dog." One of the most important points made was that "if your dog is OK with wearing a costume, make sure the costume is comfortable." That's good advice, and we stand by it. But you know what? If you have a costume idea as brilliant as this, you have to go for it. We just hope this dog's owners didn't make it wear that tank costume for much longer than it took to shoot this video.
Milqito, Flickr
Dogs recognize people by smell but also by sight. A dog may not recognize a favorite human behind that Halloween mask. Miniature goblins, witches and other ghoulish visitors often are strange children he won't know. A flowing cape or sparkly fairy wings can be scary. A frightened dog easily mistakes a waving "light saber" or pitch fork as a weapon aimed to hurt.
Halloween is a high risk holiday for dog bites with children in costumes that scare dogs encountering strange pets on their own turf. And when hero dogs defend themselves, their homes and their people from "space aliens" your child could get bitten. Wolfsbane, garlic and holy water won't help but these tips can keep trick or treaters safe and the dogs happy, too.
Call Ahead. It's best to plan trick or treat visits with people you know-and ask them about confining their dog before you arrive. Pet "parents" want to keep their "fur-kids" safe, too, and should appreciate your thoughtfulness.
llimllib, Flickr
These 10 blood-chilling legends of demon dogs and ghostly saviors, creation fables and ancient gods have both reviled and celebrated man's best friend. But is there any truth to these tales? Don't ask the dog, he's keeping his secrets safe!
Supernatural Guard Dogs
Vulcan, the Roman god of fire and metal, forged a bronze dog that slowly came to life under his divine breath. From this dog was born Cerberus, the watchdog of Hades. Cerberus lay chained to the gates of Hades, where he fawned on those who entered and devoured those who tried to escape. He had three heads: a lion, wolf and dog, with a mane of writhing snakes, a dragon's tail and a mastiff's body. The ancient Romans placed a cake in the hands of their dead to pacify Cerberus.
The Icelandic goddess of the dead is Garm, the Dog of Hel. It's said that anyone who fed the needy while on earth will find bread in their hand to bribe Garm for safe passage.
The Avesta, sacred book of Ancient Persia's Zorastrian religion, tells of a rainbow bridge guarded by a yellow-eared dog whose bark drives out the fiend from the souls of the good.
The author's dog wearing a simple and safe Halloween costume. Patti Lawson
1. People love Halloween candy and so do dogs, but while candy is a great treat for us, dog owners need to make sure that it's not accessible to their animals. Most owners know that chocolate is poisonous for dogs, but so is almost everything else that you'd find in a trick-or-treat bag. Artificial sweeteners, raisins and other candy items can mean serious health hazards or even death for dogs. The wrappers can be ingested and cause choking. Keep healthy, natural-ingredient dog treats on hand for your dog and other dogs that might show up at your door.
It's almost Halloween, and we can't get enough of pets in outlandish outfits. Especially cats. Cats wearing costumes is funny, funny stuff. We love seeing their expressive little faces and imagining what they're actually thinking.
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You've spent loads of time perfecting costumes and special Halloween snacks for yourself and your family, but has someone been left out of the action? Although sharing your sweet treats with your furry friend is a bad idea, there is a way to get your pet in on the festivities: a new Halloween-themed toy!
JW Pet Arachnoid Ball, $9.99 at PetSmart
Our toy-testing dogs went crazy for these! They're easy to throw, and we dig how super cute they are. The dogs seemed to like the different layers of rubber and the remarkably loud squeaking. Though described as durable, we suggest human supervision around power-chewing pooches.
Mini Plush Tootsie Pop, $1.99 at DogToys.com
You can't give your dog any loot from your Halloween haul, but you can offer the next best thing with a toy lollipop! Or maybe you should just have a few on hand for your dog-owning neighbors when they stop by your house to trick-or-treat. We know we'd love to get this in our candy bag!
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PetSmart.com
Our toy-testing dogs went crazy for these! They're easy to throw, and we dig how super cute they are. The dogs seemed to like the different layers of rubber and the remarkably loud squeaking. Though described as durable, we suggest human supervision around power-chewing pooches.
DogToys.com
You can't give your dog any loot from your Halloween haul, but you can offer the next best thing with a toy lollipop! Or maybe you should just have a few on hand for your dog-owning neighbors when they stop by your house to trick-or-treat. We know we'd love to get this in our candy bag!
Chad A. DeMartino
Location: New York, N.Y.
Age: 2
Favorite Treat: Dried liver treats.
Favorite Toy: Squeaky pig.
Likes: Jumping, the beach, dogs bigger than he is, acting like a person, and his own float in the pool.
Dislikes: The rain, large waves at the beach, and when people sit on his float on the pool.
Weird Quirks: Before Marco goes out for a walk in the morning, he has to take some food from his bowl with him.
Fun Fact: Marco goes to bed promptly at 11 every night.
Congratulations to our submitter, Chad. If you'd like to submit your pet, upload your favorite pet photos to our Flickr pool!
More Cute Pets
While nothing can beat a picture of a dog in a Princess Leia costune, here are other fun Halloween stories from AOL.
Holidash editor puts the Katy Perry costume to the test.
StyleList offers trick or treat options for Mom.
MyDaily horoscopes tells you what is happening in the stars this week.
jupiterimages
In fact, we're looking for 10 of the best pet Halloween pictures to feature in a special post on Paw Nation. Think you've got a great shot of your four-legged buddy dressed up for a night of trick-or-treating? Submit it to our Paw Nation Flickr pool by November 2 and you might just see your pet in our Halloween gallery!
For more fun information on Halloween costumes, be sure to tune in to Holidash!
Instead of doing the normal trick-or-treating this year, why not celebrate Halloween with a little fun at the zoo? Zoos around the country are holding Halloween-themed parties, special events and more Perfect for the family or an evening out with the animals, here are a few events that promise to be a spooktacular time.
Bronx Zoo
If you're in the New York City area, you can't miss Boo at the Zoo at the Bronx Zoo. Held weekends in October, this event includes a number of events for the family, including puppet shows, hay rides, a costume parade and a spooky extinct animal graveyard. Be sure not to miss the 3-D Haunted Safari that takes you through a bat cave, the belly of a snake and a rain forest swamp. Check out our first-hand account from last year's Boo at the Zoo, and a photo gallery from this year below.
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Bronx Zoo
If you're in the New York City area, you can't miss Boo at the Zoo at the Bronx Zoo. Held weekends in October, this event includes a number of events for the family, including puppet shows, hay rides, a costume parade and a spooky extinct animal graveyard. Be sure not to miss the 3-D Haunted Safari that takes you through a bat cave, the belly of a snake and a rain forest swamp. Check out our first-hand account from last year's Boo at the Zoo, and a photo gallery from this year below.
The Indianapolis Zoo is celebrating Halloween with their ZooBoo weekends (Oct. 15–17, 21–24, and 28–30). Visitors to the zoo have the opportunity to check out fun seasonal events, like a Halloween-themed dolphin show and trick-or-treat candy stations around the park. But humans aren't the only ones getting in on the fun. Elephants at the zoo got to smash and eat pumpkins as part of an annual holiday tradition! According to a zoo spokesperson, it only takes an elephant three bites to demolish a pumpkin.
Check out the video below. And be sure to come back to Paw Nation on Friday, October 15 for a listing of other ZooBoo events around the country.
Interested in doing something a little more creative with your pumpkins? Holidash has the scoop on carving pumpkins.
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Check out the video below. And be sure to come back to Paw Nation on Friday, October 15 for a listing of other ZooBoo events around the country.
Interested in doing something a little more creative with your pumpkins? Holidash has the scoop on carving pumpkins.
Whether you plan to trick-or-treat with you dog or just want to hand out candy with your cat, a new costume for your pet is likely on your Halloween shopping list. Because what's cuter than canines and kitties in costume? Not much!
Our friends at PetSmart have an excellent array of pet Halloween costumes. If you're looking for something adorable, hysterical, or even a little spooky for your cat or dog, you're sure to find just the right costume, and one lucky Paw Nation reader will win a free costume of his or her choice, plus a Halloween-themed dog toy or cat toy.
Go with a fabulous, funny costume like the Fluffy Lobster, or keep it simple with a cute little collar, like the Ghost Emblem cat collar.
To enter, leave a confirmed comment below telling us about your Halloween plans.
The comment must be left before 5 p.m. ET on Tuesday, September 28, 2010.
You may enter only once.
One winner will be selected in a random drawing.
One winner will receive the PetSmart pet costume of his or her choice plus a Halloween toy (valued at up to $22.99).
Open to legal residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older.
Click here for complete official rules. Winner will be notified by e-mail, so be sure to provide a valid address!
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Our friends at PetSmart have an excellent array of pet Halloween costumes. If you're looking for something adorable, hysterical, or even a little spooky for your cat or dog, you're sure to find just the right costume, and one lucky Paw Nation reader will win a free costume of his or her choice, plus a Halloween-themed dog toy or cat toy.
Go with a fabulous, funny costume like the Fluffy Lobster, or keep it simple with a cute little collar, like the Ghost Emblem cat collar.
To enter, leave a confirmed comment below telling us about your Halloween plans.
The comment must be left before 5 p.m. ET on Tuesday, September 28, 2010.
You may enter only once.
One winner will be selected in a random drawing.
One winner will receive the PetSmart pet costume of his or her choice plus a Halloween toy (valued at up to $22.99).
Open to legal residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older.
Click here for complete official rules. Winner will be notified by e-mail, so be sure to provide a valid address!
Vampire costume: Martha Stewart PETS Collection at PetSmart. Dinosaur costume: PetSmart.com
If you've got a frightening feline or bone-chilling boxer -- or a pet that can fake it with a little artful costuming -- head over to the PetSmart Facebook page and click on the Contests tab. Then you'll just need to upload a photo of your pet in his or her best Halloween costume for a chance at the grand prize: your pet getting a cameo in a 2011 PetSmart commercial and $1,000 cash. More cash and gift card prizes will be awarded for runners up, random daily winners and pets receiving the highest weekly votes. You have until October 27 to enter.
Think Halloween is all fun and games? This spooky-silly holiday may have some serious consequences for your pets. According to Heather Black of the American Humane Association, "Pets may find strangers coming to the door dressed as ghosts and goblins a little too scary." American Humane suggests keeping pets away from the commotion in a quiet room, so that the constant stream of trick-or-treaters doesn't stress them out (or give them a chance to escape).
And for goodness' sake, allow your pets some dignity. Choose only awesome costumes.
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- Open flames can cause a curious pet's fur to catch fire (youch!), so choose artificial, battery-powered jack-o-lanterns to decorate your home.
- Though it might be tempting to let your pet in on the celebratory fun, don't feed them candy. Chocolate especially can be very dangerous for dogs and cats, so you'll just have to eat it all yourself instead (oh, darn).
- Keep black cats inside, as they could fall victim to mean-spirited prankers or witches. Just kidding about the witches. Probably.
And for goodness' sake, allow your pets some dignity. Choose only awesome costumes.
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