We've already discussed Halloween as a celebration in another article of ours—one about Halloween-themed foods. It touches upon the origins of this celebration, which was a Celtic spiritual tradition with an emphasis on dressing up as part of a self-defense ritual of sorts. Let us explain…

The original Celtic tradition that inspired Halloween is called Samhain (pronounced sow-win). At the time, people believed that there’s a barrier between worlds that can be breached during this particular day by fairies or ancestors. There were other monsters to contend with too, like shape-shifters called Pukah (pronounced poo-cah), or impish creatures called the Dullahan (p. doo-la-han). That’s only the beginning, but you get the idea.

So, to avoid becoming a tragic victim and ending up on a crime drama podcast, they would dress up as animals and monsters. Apparently, it was enough to deter any fairies who would otherwise kidnap them.

Slowly but surely, the tradition kept being translated and revamped into what we know as Halloween today.

Naturally, costumes are one of the key staples of Halloween, so it was only a question of when someone would translate that concept to pets.

And this is where we have to address the elephant in the room. Most consider dressing up pets in Halloween costumes as harmless fun. However, veterinarians are pointing out that costumes—even more so, accessorized ones—pose a risk to animals.

At the very least, it’s important to understand that pets are not fashion accessories and using them for likes on social media is frowned upon.

But besides that, an animal dressed up in a costume essentially puts them in danger of not being able to defend themselves in case of a predator. After all, the most common time for going trick or treating is at night, which only empowers wild animals on the prowl to strike.

Another key point to note is that costumes don’t allow the pets to express their natural behaviors and use body language to communicate. On top of it all, it can mess with the pets’ body temperature regulation faculties and they might not be able to breathe properly, which goes double for some flat-faced breeds of dogs.

Pair all of the above with the fact that some pets just find Halloween stressful as is—excited kids, adults who look different, unfamiliar people buzzing the doorbell—and you get yourself a whole lot of pressure on the animal. And pressure is the last thing a lovely house pet is supposed to be experiencing.

So, PSA time, people: be reasonable and aware of how you dress up your beloved animal companions. For starters, make sure the costume, whatever it is, does not restrict the animal’s movement or functions—they should still be able to relieve themselves, move, see, hear, eat, drink and breathe. It goes without saying that if a pet starts squirming, that’s an immediate no on the costume.

Make sure the costume doesn’t make the pet overheat. It goes double for dress-ups in summer, overweight or flat-faced pets.

Also, as mentioned previously, the clothing shouldn’t stifle the animal’s ability to communicate, so ears, tail, and other important parts should not be covered.

Lastly, always keep an eye on the pet, not only for external risk factors like predators, but also so that they don't hurt themselves in the costume. Any accessories that they could get tangled in or otherwise hurt by should not be used at all.

So, stay safe out there, be mindful of your pet (even if it is a pet rock) during Halloween and why not share your stories, tips or takes on Halloween costumes in the comment section below!