• Two of the largest pet welfare charities warn owners to ditch the Halloween costumes to avoid pets’ distress.
• Research reveals almost 20% of dog owners dress their pet up for special occasions*. 
• Another recent survey also shows that worryingly one in five children aged seven to 11 said the most enjoyable part of owning a pet was being able to dress them up **.
• Dogs Trust and Cats Protection share ways your pets can get involved in the fun, safely.

As Halloween approaches, two of the largest pet welfare charities, Dogs Trust and Cats Protection are urging pet owners to put their pet’s comfort ahead of spooky season trends. 

Dressing up as ghosts and witches is a fun human tradition but the charities are warning that forcing your pets into fancy dress can cause distress, overheating and can stop them expressing normal behaviour such as grooming or stretching, which can cause them significant stress and discomfort.    

Research from Dogs Trust reveals almost 20% of owners dress up their pet for a special occasion, but many are unaware of the potential distress this causes. A further recent survey highlighted that worryingly one in five children aged seven to 11 said the most enjoyable part of owning a pet was being able to dress them up.

Practical winter wear such as coats and jumpers can be vital for keeping your pooch warm, especially thin-coated breeds like Greyhounds and Whippets. However, dogs can be sensitive individuals and are not fashion accessories. Using costumes can restrict their natural movement, prevent them from expressing normal behaviours and cause discomfort, irritation or dangerous overheating. 

Dogs Trust also strongly advises owners against using cosmetic products on animals including hair dyes, nail varnishes and other colourants. These products often contain harsh chemicals that can lead to chemical burns or skin irritation. 

However, there are still many ways to get your pet involved this Halloween!

• Freaky frozen treats with five dog friendly ingredients you can craft your pooch up their own Halloween frozen treats made at home in spooky moulds.
• Play a trick and treat engagement game with your cat or dog by scattering treats throughout a space in your home and encouraging your pet to engage their senses and seek them out
• Don't let them miss out on Pumpkin fun, use a cooking Pumpkin to chef them up some delicious Pumpkin Spice and Peanut Butter spookies.

Charlie Dobson, Senior Veterinary Surgeon at Dogs Trust said, “We know owners only want to include their furry family members in the Halloween fun, but what looks cute to us can be deeply uncomfortable for a dog. This spooky season, let’s treat our dogs with kindness by letting them be dogs; no costumes or chemicals required.”

Daniel Warren-Cummings, Senior Behaviour Manager at Cats Protection said: “It’s important to remember that cats are sentient beings with their own needs and preferences. Many of the activities that we enjoy as humans are simply not transferable to cats.

"Halloween should be enjoyable for everyone, but our pets don't understand why they're being dressed up. If even a fraction of the estimated 3.1 million UK households that own both a cat and a dog*** put their pets in costumes, that's a huge number of animals potentially experiencing unnecessary stress, fear or discomfort.

“ We encourage people to celebrate Halloween in ways that cats genuinely enjoy, such as using feather toys to encourage play or offering puzzle feeders and treat balls that tap into their natural hunting instincts.”

For more information contact the Dogs Trust press office on 020 3985 8634 or email  pressoffice@dogstrust.org.uk, or the Cats Protection Media Team on 01825 741 911 or email media.office@cats.org.uk