While Halloween can be a fun time for many, it can also be a difficult time for pets and their owners.
Your spooky costume might not scare your four-legged friend, but the sound of fireworks certainly can, and so here are some tips to help make Halloween a more pleasant time for all.
The Head of Education and Media at the Dublin Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said last year that there are "a lot of animals that get very, very scared" by the sound of fireworks.
Gillian Bird said these noises can cause cats and dogs to run away.
She said the best way to ensure they do not get lost if they do run away is to make sure they are microchipped.
"We still have dogs and cats out there that are not microchipped, which means that if they do get lost - and they can easily slip their collars or just run off and get scared - it makes it very difficult for charities to reunited them with their owners."
Some pets spend all their time outdoors, and Ms Bird recommends that people either start to bring them inside now - so they are used to being indoors by the time Halloween arrives - or else to make sure back gardens and other outdoor areas are "good and secure".
If people do not have their pets microchipped and will not be able to get it done before the main Halloween festivities begin this weekend, they are advised to make sure they are as comfortable as possible on 31 October.
Much like ourselves, animals will be more relaxed if they are well fed, warm and comfortable, so the main advice is to pamper your pooch and create a nice den for them.
Keeping some background noise on in the house, like a scary movie or some Halloween music, can help to cover up any other noises that may scare pets.
This can be enhanced by keeping doors and windows, including internal doors, closed to dampen any sounds.
Finally, while we often over indulge in sweets and chocolates at Halloween, these can make our pets feel very unwell.
It is a very good idea to keep any of these out of the reach of curious paws.
Chocolate can upset dogs' stomachs, while things like monkey nut shells can prove to be a choking hazard.
