LAFAYETTE, La. (KLFY)– When thousands of children hit the streets tonight in Acadiana to trick or treat, many will make their four-legged family members part of the fun by dressing them in costume and taking them along.

Whether your pets will be trick or treating or staying home tonight, there are some things to keep in mind to make it a safe and happy night for everyone.

Pets and Halloween are an adorable combination. These well-dressed dogs turned out for camp bow wow’s “barks, boos and brews” Halloween event last week in downtown Lafayette.

Halloween gives pet owners a chance to get creative in celebrating the holiday, with a wide variety of costumes.

While having fun is the main goal, it’s also important to make sure your pet is safe and comfortable.  Ila Leger, owner of bark avenue pet boutique in Lafayette, says the simpler the costume, the better.

“If you’re walking, trick or treating with the kids, I always recommend a cute little t-shirt or an easy little hat you can put on with Velcro real quick.”

Leger says keeping your pet’s costume close to his body will keep him from tripping, and a hat, rather than a mask, will make sure his vision isn’t obstructed.

Leger says some of her customers even go an extra step to make sure that trick or treating pets can enjoy a treat of their own.

“They buy dog treats for dogs that are trick or treating in their neighborhood, so that you don’t have to worry about them getting kids’ treats or human treats, so they can have their own little trick or treat.”

While a lot of dogs like to dress up on Halloween, my dog Cody is more of a homebody, and he and I like to stay at home and hand out candy to the kids.  If your dog is going to be staying home on Halloween here are some suggestions on how to keep him safe.

“One of the first things you want to do,” Said Rachel Verret, “Is make sure your pet is properly identified.”

Rachel Verret is a certified behavioral specialist with camp bow wow in Lafayette. She says a sturdy collar with an id tag is a must, whether your dog is hitting the streets on Halloween or staying home.

“Another thing you can think about is maybe keeping your dog in a back room, maybe with some calm music playing, so that it just kind of calms their anxiety, because if you think about it, the ringing of the doorbell, opening up the door constantly, it’ll get them a little bit stressed out.”

And when your children return from trick and treating, make sure to keep those treats out of your pet’s reach. Chocolate, raisins, and sugar-free candy can all be toxic for your pet. “We want to make sure that not only are our pets safe, but the people coming to our homes are also safe, as well.”

“We want to make sure that not only are our pets safe, but the people coming to our homes are also safe, as well.”