Halloween can be a very stressful time for pets.

With dozens of strangers running around in costume, they can become very upset, especially with unfamiliar happenings going on in their home, such as constant door-bell ringing and strange little creatures appearing, screaming and howling for treats.For their safety, keep your pets indoors in a quiet place with water and food, away from all the trick-or-treating activities.Be sure they are wearing ID tags or are microchipped should they get out. A frightened animal, no matter how well trained, will run and could get lost easily.Keep the candy (and other snacks) stashed away from pets. Chocolate is toxic to dogs, cats and ferrets. As little as one ounce of dark chocolate can poison a 50-pound dog. Healthier treats, like raisins, are also toxic to dogs and can cause kidney failure if ingested.Even if you're diligent about keeping candy out of reach of your pet, beware of the wrappers they come in, which can become lodged in your pet's intestines, causing an obstruction that could require surgery.Lighted candles pose an obvious threat to both pets and the home, but other Halloween decorations can be dangerous as well, ending up as a chew toy and choking hazard. Use fake cobwebs sparingly if at all, especially outdoors on your trees and bushes. Pets that can become entangled.Like decorations, if you are dressing your pet in costume, think about dangers. Make sure their vision is not impaired by a mask, their movement is not stopped by dangling items and the costume is breathable to keep from getting overheated.Keep in mind, there are people in this world who think nothing of harming innocent animals and Halloween seems to bring out the worst of them.Use precautions and keep an eye on Fido or Kitty to assure they also have a Happy (and stress free) Halloween.