Halloween Can Be Spooky For Pets And Wildlife
Calaveras County, CA – As spooky decorations go up for Halloween, Calaveras Humane Society (CHS) warns they can be hazardous to pets and wildlife while dispelling typical holiday black cat myths.
One key item they urge decorators to avoid is using synthetic spiderwebs. The image box photo shows a screech owl caught in one of those webs and had to be rescued.
“Outdoors, they’re [synthetic spiderwebs] a potential hazard for birds and other wildlife. Inside the house, they can cause serious problems if ingested by your dog or cat,” advised CHS. Luckily, the owl made a full recovery.
One pet that is synonymous with Halloween is the black cat. This time of year, they are a major topic on social media, with some urgently warning against black cat/kitten adoptions near Halloween, citing the potential for abuse, torture and their killing by mischief makers or those dabbling in the occult.
“We agree that this would be absolutely terrifying—if it were true,” stated CHS. “The fact is, it’s not.”
CHS cites a National Geographic article in 2007 titled “Ritual Cat Sacrifices at Halloween Myth, Experts Say.” It found that specialists on Halloween and the occult have found “no confirmed statistics, court cases, or studies to support the idea” that black cats are targeted around Halloween.
Additionally, there is no existing evidence that animal abuse in general increases at Halloween, according to CHS officials who challenge the public to Google it. While stories abound about black cat urban legends and posted warnings about keeping black cats safe at Halloween, CHS found no actual *substantiated* cases of them being harmed.
Sadly, shelter officials share the reality that black cats already have it hard in shelters, taking two to three times longer to be adopted than their more colorful counterparts. They point to the ASPCA, the Humane Society of the United States, and Best Friends Animal Society, animal welfare groups that all encourage the adoption of black cats both around Halloween and throughout the year. CHS added,
“If you’d like to open your heart to a terrific black cat or kitten, at this time of the year or any other, we’d be happy to help you adopt a fabulous feline friend.”
