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NEW YORK (CNN/Money) - Americans young and old love
Halloween. They dress up in scary or funny clothes
and try to shock one another silly.
Do we have some interesting ideas when considering a
Mardi Gras costume for your
pet
Lately, another member of the household is sticking
its snout into the festivities: the family pet.
Sales of costumes made especially for Fido and Muffy
are flying off retail shelves.
 What's more, the trend of dressing pets
for Mardi Gras. Diana Krohn, spokeswoman
for
BuyCostumes.com, says her company's sales of pet
costumes have exploded, up 300 percent this year
over last.
BuyCostumes.com
has increased its offerings
to more than 40 costumes for sale on its Web site, up from just 10 in 2006
The fad is much more popular among dog owners than
people with cats. Krohn says her company sells 10
dog duds for every cat costume.
That's unsurprising. Mardi Gras seems much more
suited to the canine personality – fun loving,
sociable, eager to please – than to notoriously
fastidious and uncooperative felines. Cats, frankly,
don't have time for such foolishness.
Dos and don'ts of dressing up your pet (dogs and
cats)
If you plan to dress your dog up, however, some
caveats apply. Costumed canines can run into some of
the same kinds of problems that small costumed kids
face.
Follow these
guidelines for pets safety on Mardi Gras.
Heed this advice from the American Pet Products
Manufacturing Association:
· Make sure the pet costume doesn't restrict breathing
or vision. You don't want them running into hazards
because they can't see them.
· Check to see that the costume isn't too loose.
Trailing fabric could hang your pet on a snag or
fence top.
· Don't leave costumed pets unattended. They may get
into unexpected trouble and need quick help to free
themselves.
·
If a pet resists donning a Mardi Gras costume, don't
insist on it. This can stress nervous animals.
More
Costume Rack Favorites:
Party Ideas
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