Friday, October 31, 2014
Pet-rified
Don’t let your fluffy ones’ Halloween turn into a nightmare AS THE undead rise from their graves and witches mount their broomsticks to celebrate Halloween tonight, some more earthly safety concerns have been raised. Parents are being urged to take extra precautions against fire hazards as thousands of children prepare to trick-or-treat in their droves and pets are also vulnerable. The safety warning was issued yesterday by Minister for the Environment Alan Kelly over risks such as illegal bonfires and fireworks. Mr Kelly said: ‘Halloween can be a
by luke holohan
fantastic time of year, especially for children, and we all have fond memories of the excitement and fun at this time. I do not wish to be seen to be dampening all the fun, but I do wish to encourage parents to be sensible and to be safe. ‘Smoke alarms should be checked as they provide life-saving early warning should a fire occur.’ Mr Kelly also highlighted the important work done by the
emergency services, and asked people to show respect during the long, dark night ahead. Meanwhile, a study on trick-ortreating has found that sweets (81 per cent); chocolate (51 per cent); fruit (34 per cent); and nuts (31 per cent) will be among the most popular bag fillers this year, and people are being warned to take into account allergies when handing out treats. Family life website mummypages.ie revealed a rise
‘Try to minimise stress to animals’
in allergies among children in Ireland with one-in-five mothers now having a child suffering from some form of food allergy. ISPCA chiefs have also asked pet owners to ‘keep your furry friends safe this Halloween’. In a statement by the animal welfare charity, Michael Keane said: ‘Pets can become terrified during Halloween but steps can be taken to minimise any stress caused.’ He said animal lovers should ensure pets are kept indoors away from loud noises and flammable items. ‘Anxiety can be reduced by altering feeding regimes,’ he added.
Furryy friend: fr ISPCA’s Michael Keane has tips for keeping pets safe this Halloween Picture: Peter wilcock
Hounds of hell let their hair down and party
Pet dogs in costumes during the ‘PETrified’ Halloween en party in Manila, a, Philippines. Children and their pets came dressed in various costumes to mark the Halloween weekend before the All Saints Day celebration Picture: ePa
Keep Dublin tidy – Please recycle this Metro Herald when you are finished with it