Humane Society plans treats, urges Halloween safety

For a group of animal-loving people, Halloween will mean treats for dogs and cats as well as little trick-or-treating goblins and ghosts.

The Humane Society of Southeast Missouri is throwing what director Chuck Stucker calls a "howling good time" at the shelter on Boutin Drive.

From 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, adults and children are invited to come, bring the family dog and play Halloween games. Bags of treats will be given to the children, Stucker said, and there will also be dog and cat treats for the four-legged family members.

The party will be a fund raiser for the shelter. For a small fee, participants can play the games that will be offered and visit the booths that will be set up.

One animal associated with Halloween will be keeping a low profile -- the black cat.

Animal shelters across the country have learned not to allow adoptions of black cats near Halloween to protect them from being used in satanic rituals or other forms of animal abuse.

Stucker said the local shelter is very careful about whom they will allow to adopt a black cat or kitten near Halloween.

"We don't ban it specifically, but we do look really close at who's adopting them and why," he said. "If we have some concerns about it we look twice, and would probably wait until after the holiday."

Animal protection organizations routinely urge people who own solid black, and even solid white, cats to keep them indoors at Halloween to keep them from being abused by pranksters.