How to enjoy Halloween without spooking animals - Yorkshire Post Letters

Halloween is here, and with a few simple tips, we can scare ourselves silly, without spooking animals.

Ditch deadly decorations. Avoid fake webs, which can trap birds, bats and other animals, and never bleach or paint pumpkins if leaving them outdoors – leave them natural as a safe snack for hungry squirrels.

Skip gelatine sweets – a gruesome slurry of boiled-down bones, sinew and tendons – and ply trick-or-treaters with delicious vegan treats instead.

Keep costumes to yourself. Companion animals don’t need to play dress-up to be adorable, and costumes can be uncomfortable, restrictive, or pose a choking risk.

Forego fireworks. Keep companion animals calm and secure, and respect wildlife by never setting off fireworks yourself. Remember, too, ‘ghouls’ can roam the neighbourhood on Halloween, and animals – especially black cats – can fall victim to cruel pranks or worse, so keep everyone safe indoors.

With a few thoughtful tweaks, we can have a frightfully compassionate spooky season.