West Cape May Mayor Pam Kaithern announced today that, “Trick or Treat will NOT happen tonight in the Cape Mays. An island-wide Trick or Treat will be held this Saturday, November 3, from 5:00 to 7:00pm, in conjunction with CM, CMP and WCM.

HOWL-O-WEEN

Here we are, Howl-O-Ween Month again! Many of us will be thinking about a costume for ourselves, our children, and maybe for our dogs. When choosing costumes for ourselves and our children, we can go by what we like, what is “hot” this season, a child’s favorite character or super hero, and most importantly a costume that is safe! We can get reflector tape to put on costumes or on Trick or Treat bags and we can remind ourselves and our children to “look both ways” before crossing. Many of these choices and safe precautions are important if we are going to costume our dog as well!

When choosing a costume for your dog be sure that it fits. A costume too big can be a tripping hazard, and a costume too small can be uncomfortable, at best, for your dog and a choking hazard as well. Remember that your dog need to be able to see, or your dog could become fearful at sudden movements or sudden/loud noises. Also pay attention to any hazardous materials used in a costume for your dog(s), which they may chew on or eat, which can cause vomiting, diarrhea, or worse. You want to enjoy Howl-O-Ween with your dog(s), not be visiting the vet instead.

Speaking of “toxic,” remember that chocolate, xylitol (a component of many sugarless gums and other low sugar products), and many other “candies” are very toxic to your dog. Depending on the size of the dog, the amount consumed, and the individual dog susceptibility, these products can cause vomiting, diarrhea, dehydration, or death. Be very vigilant is insuring that your dog does not have access to or does not consume the Trick Or Treat Goodies which are okay for 2-legged Howl-O-Weeners but NOT okay for 4-legged Howl-O-Weeners! Better to make some homemade doggie treats so your dog can do the Howl-O-Ween thing with you, enjoy the fun of a few treats, and stay safe and healthy at the same time. Here’s a quick and easy recipe for you that. Based on the enthusiasm here, I think your dog will love them, too!

Have Fun! Be Safe!

And, HAPPY HOWL-O-WEEN!!!!

Cool Cubes

• 3 cups plain non-fat yogurt
• 1¼ cups canned pumpkin
• 2 Tbsp natural (local) honey

Combine, whisk well, pour into ice cube trays, freeze 2½ hrs. Pop out as needed or store in a sealed freezer bag.

Note: You can use mashed banana or unsalted peanut butter instead of the pumpkin for variation.

This Month’s Good Read: Train You Dog, Change Your Life by Maureen Ross, M.A., N.C.C., and Gary Ross, M.E. This is a wonderful book to read and review to refresh yourself on training your dog, or to get ready for your first dog. The book focuses on building a healthy, trusting relationship with your dog through the discussion of fundamentals, training, and applications. There are many elements of this book that will benefit you and your dog, even if your dog has been family for some time. We can all “learn a few new tricks” and have fun learning together!