Happy Halloween, all you lil' devils

To get you in the Halloween mood:

Evil Chipmunk set to music.

Evil Chipmunk devil.

Evil Chipmunk zombie.

Evil Chihuahua?

LaGrange to hold dog costume contest Saturday

Like dressing up your pooch in Halloween costumes?

Well, get your dog gussied up Saturday and head over to the Town of LaGrange for the Halloween Dog Costume Contest.

It starts at noon at the See Spot Run Off-Leash Area on Overlook Road, just north of Route 55 and east of the Poughkeepsie town line.

To participate, there is a $5 donation/entry fee, which includes chances to win dog-grooming prizes. Refreshments, including cider and doughnuts, will be served.

LaGrange Supervisor Jon Wagner will be the master of ceremonies for the contest.

The rain date is noon Nov. 1.

Here is a video to give you some costume ideas.

Almost last-minute Boo-day safety reminder

With Halloween just around the corner — Eeek! It's Saturday! — here's a reminder of some basic pet safety tips.

From the Chicago Daily Herald:

• To avoid stress, with the door bell ringing constantly, find your pet a quiet place in the house.
• If the weather is nice, give the treats outdoors. Again avoiding the doorbell.
• No chocolate for Fido.
• Keep lit candles well away from your pets.
• Make sure pets have current identification tags. You never know when they might slip out when the door is open.

Have fun on Halloween.

My favorite: The Hulk

New Yorkers know how to celebrate Halloween with their dogs — by making them wear costumes.

Clever ones, at that.

Take a look at the costumed pooches at a couple of recent dog festivals in Manhattan, from Gothamist.com.

Some can wear a Palin costume, some can't

Fresh from the Huffington Post is a collection of pictures of pets wearing Halloween costumes.

Or at least we hope they are for Halloween, because if they aren't, then something seriously wrong with those people.

Anyway, here is the link. Enjoy.

I have to admit I laughed out loud at the baked potato costume and the scuba dog.

Do you dress up your pet on Halloween?

Scary time of year

Well, my neighbor finally activated the spooky sound machine that is motion activated.

And mercifully, it's been off more than it's been on.

When it is on, it certainly makes walking Kate interesting. Not that she's in the least bit bothered by it.

The other morning, the machine — which is supposed to say, "Happy Halloween," followed by demonic laughter, when, say, a leaf floats by the house's windows — was not quite working up to par.

For the entire length of our walk, the machine was saying, "Happy Howl," "Happy Howl," "Happy Howl," "Happy Howl."

Then it just said, "Happ."

That's when I let out a demonic laugh.

Scary time of year

And I don't mean election season.

Put yourself in your pets' minds when it comes to Halloween.

If you didn't really understand what the occasion was all about, how would you feel about strange creatures coming to the door time and time again making eerie sounds?

Come to think of it, I'm not thrilled with the idea, but anyway ...

Here are some tips from the people at the American Humane Association to keep your companion animals safe this month.

• Keep pet treats handy, and dole them out if your pet sits calmly while the door.
• Put pets in a quiet room well away from Halloween commotion.
• Make sure pets are wearing collars with current ID and rabies tags.
• No chocolate or candy — for your pets, that is.
• Keep decorations pet-friendly, such as battery-powered illuminated pumpkins. Make sure decorations are out of pets' reach.
• Let your cats stay indoors for the holiday.

Personally, I'm waiting for the one house in my neighborhood that puts up a motion-based spooky sound machine. What fun that is on late-night walks.

Boo!

Halloween comics from 'Mutts'

Patrick McDonnell is doing a week of spooky comics in his daily strip "Mutts."

Here's a link to the Washington Post Web site. Be sure and see the Monday's and all the rest throughout the week.

So ... what's in the box?

Scary video clip here.

Gotcha!

Costume contests?

In response to a comment asking if there were any Halloween costume contests for pets this year, petco.com is having an online contest which you can find here.

Does anyone else know of anything that's going on this week?

Let us know.

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?)

Never looked more natural

Since I believe strongly in allowing dogs to be dogs — it's all about dignity, people — I made a commitment that if I ask Kate to do something stooopid then I should suffer the consequences as well.

Yesterday, I posted a picture of Kate wearing devil's horns. Turnabout, and all that.

I made this vow last year after I took this picture of Kate.

Here was my commitment in action.

Lil devil

Kate's ready for Halloween.

She's not too happy about it, though.

Somehow the horns managed to stay put long enough to take this picture.

Keep your pets safe today

It's the creepiest day of the year: Halloween.

So remember, when you are having ghouls and goblins come to your house, to keep your pets safe and secure.

Here's a link to a previous blog entry with some hints.

Boo.

Cute Halloween costumes

The Washington Post has a slide show of reader-submitted pet Halloween costumes.

Besides your basic dogs and cats, there is even a ferret and a horse.

I would hate to think of the trick that horse might do if you didn't provide the treat.

Keeping pets safe during Halloween

While all the humans are having fun on Halloween, make sure that the critters in your lives are safe.

The American Kennel Club eNewsletter has a few suggestions about the holiday, in particular if you dress up your pets.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals also has some tips about Halloween safety for your pets.

Some hints:

Chocolate and sweets are no-nos, as we all know. But it is suggested that the dog is walked early, while it is still light. In the dark, your dog might find candy and other goodies on the street or ground.

Make sure pets are safe and secure in a room where it can't get out the door when trick or treaters stop by.

Don't leave your pets unattended outside Halloween night, even behind a fence.

Make sure your dog or cat has proper identification.

Paws in the pumpkin patch

How about a Halloween party for you and your pooch?

Positive Paws Training School is presenting a Doggie Halloween Party Tuesday, Oct. 16, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the American Legion Post No. 1466 in the Town of Poughkeepsie. For directions, click here.

There will be a costume contest, fun and games and for $12 you can get a picture of your dog in the pumpkin patch.

Your dog needs to be on a leash that is no longer than 6 feet, and the Positive Paws people ask that aggressive dogs be left at home. Well, that makes sense.

Call 845-635-8977.

Photo by Karl Rabe.

Again, a plea for dignity

Early last week — yes, last week — I took Kate out in the evening to do her thing and I heard a strange rumbling sound, almost like a muffled radio transmission.

Then at the end of it I heard "Happy Halloween!" followed by demonic laughter.

October's going to be a looooooooong month.

My neighbors, in addition to a skeleton on their front porch, have put some sort of motion-activated device that plays spooky sounds. And it seems to be able to detect motion from across the street.

So far, every evening, Kate and I have been greeted by the sounds of the season — well ahead of the season.

Speaking of Halloween, take a look at this picture.

Do you do this to your pets?


They don't call it a dog's life for nothing. Please, people, give your dog a break and no costumes this year.

But if you must, take pictures and send them in to me. I'll post them for all to see.

(Photo of Mocha by Kathy McLaughlin/Poughkeepsie Journal)