Halloween is just around the corner, and we hope you have your PETA costume ready to go! While you may be excited about the holiday, it’s important to remember that animals can be harmed as we celebrate. There are a few things to be mindful of when preparing for Halloween to ensure everyone has fun.

Costumes are for you, not Spot.

Advertisements around the holiday can make it seem appealing to dress up your beloved pup. Companies do their best to make Halloween costumes for a dog or cat look like an easy way to involve animal companions in your celebrations, but that’s far from true. Costumes can be uncomfortable and unpleasant for our animal friends, and Halloween activities can amplify their stress even more. Animals should never be treated as props.

Keep your animal companions safe and indoors.

Trick-or-treating is a fun tradition, but it can be hazardous when you have animal companions in the home. Be sure to keep your dogs and cats inside in a safe room while the front door will be opened for trick-or-treaters all evening. The uptick in noise and foot traffic could startle your friend and cause them to escape out of fear. Keep animal safety firmly in mind.

Keep decor animal-friendly.

It’s totally cool if you want to have the spookiest house on the block. However, it’s important to be careful about what you’re using to decorate your home. Many paper goods, like streamers, can be poisonous to your animal companions or cause a serious blockage if ingested. You don’t want to spoil the festivities with an emergency trip to the veterinarian.

Outdoor decor can create a risk to wildlife as well. Skip the fake spiderwebs this year. Small animals such as birds and insects can become entangled in them and ultimately die. Plus, your animal companions can be enticed by them, and again, if they’re consumed, they can lead to choking or serious intestinal blockage.

Jack-o’-lanterns are another fun but potentially dangerous item. Placing candles inside them can create both a fire hazard and a burn risk to all animals who come in contact with them.

And of course, hand out vegan candy!

Kindness should be extended to all animals this Halloween season. Be sure to skip gelatin, milk, whey, and other animal-based ingredients and instead opt for vegan alternatives like Vego or Divine Treasures chocolate. Check out the PETA Mall for other vegan food options for your Halloween bash.

Make the holiday scary for you, not animals!