Take the Horror Out of Halloween for the Animals
Four simple, do-able ideas for making the spooky season less scary for other species
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I make no secret about the fact that I think Halloween is the best time of the year but with all the festivities, we should still remember that we can always increase or reduce harm to animals. Here are four easy but effective ways to show kindness to other species while not taking a bite out of your holiday fun.
Opt Out of Using Fake Cobwebs
I am specifically referring to the stretchy white poly-blend you find at party supply stores in bags and people often hang outdoors from bushes, trees and doors. Birds and other small animals like chipmunks and squirrels can get caught in the webbing of this product, panic, and become hopelessly entangled. Many people don’t realize how this innocuous-seeming decoration could be so dangerous. Keep in mind, too, that other hanging decorations can also create trapping or choking hazards for wildlife. Please consider less potentially harmful ways of creating a spooky scene.
Buy Resale and Crafted Halloween Decorations and Costumes
We have a problem with unnecessary consumption in this country, and the production of those disposable decorations not only causes damage to workers and communities when they are manufactured, much of it also ends up in landfills or our oceans, adding to dead zones, which hurts the species of this planet. Consider sourcing your Halloween flair at local thrift stores and through online resale shops, including costumes. Spending a little for one-of-a-kind crafts from a maker will also support a small business and give you a unique piece you can use again and again. If you’re feeling industrious, you can even make your own fun crafts.
Keep Your Companion Animals Safe and Protected
The day after Halloween, local lost pet pages on social media overflow with people posting pictures and descriptions of animals who have run from their homes in a panic with all the noise and disruption. Please keep your animals indoors where they are safest. You may also want to keep them isolated to a room with a closed door or…
