Animal welfare experts advise against dressing up pets for Halloween

The RSPCA has issued warnings against dressing up pets for Halloween, noting that while owners may find it fun, many animals experience discomfort or distress from wearing costumes. According to the RSPCA’s Animal Kindness Index, approximately six percent of pet owners have dressed up animals for fashion or social media, while three percent have used pets for online video trends.

To celebrate the season without causing distress, experts suggest welfare-friendly alternatives such as baking pumpkin dog biscuits, providing new Halloween-themed toys for stimulation, or creating decorated cardboard boxes for cats to explore.

In a separate seasonal activity, Whipsnade Zoo in the UK utilized pumpkins for animal enrichment. Animals including ring-tailed lemurs, black lemurs, Sulawesi crested macaques, and a greater one-horned rhino were given carved squashes filled with food like sweetcorn and peppers to encourage natural foraging instincts.