It's that time of year again for ghosts and goblins

Halloween is this Friday. Boo! (Did I scare ya?)

Thankfully, the people across the street disconnected that spooky sound machine that plays scary noises every time you walk by, even if you are on the opposite sidewalk. Last year that got really old, really fast, especially late at night for Kate's last piddle of the day.

We should all remember that somethings in the Halloween festivities don't necessarily mix with your pets.

Costumes for one.

According to the people at petstress.com (I'm assuming they try to alleviate or prevent it, not that you can order stress from them for your pet), costumes should be chosen with a few things in mind.

Make sure it's comfortable for the pet and that it doesn't constrict or bind them in any way. Also be sure to choose or make a costume that the little critter can't chew on and swallow parts.

Remember that chocolate is bad for pets, as is the artificial sweetener xylitol. Keep all Halloween candy out of reach of interested wet noses.

Decorations should be kept out of harm's way — or Fido's or Fluffy's for that matter. Burning candles = bad. Electrical cords, too.

And if your pets get too excited when the doorbell rings, why not put them in a quiet area of the house until all the Trick-or-Treaters have been treated. This is even a better idea if your pet likes to dash through an open door.

Here is a link to the complete list of suggestions.

Happy Halloween! Boo! (Did I scare you that time?)