Battersea launches dog and cat pumpkin carving competition for Halloween

This October 31st forget the garish ghouls and spooky silhouettes, as Battersea Dogs & Cats Home is asking supporters to carve dog and cat faces into their pumpkins, to help promote an animal-friendly Halloween.

The charity has issued its five top tips for having a dog or cat friendly Halloween, to ensure the nation’s four-legged friends enjoy the evening. To help spread the word, Battersea hopes to see pumpkins decked out with dog and cat faces glowing from animal-lovers’ windows.

Canine Welfare Trainer Nathalie Ingham says: “Every year we see the same old scary faces in pumpkins, so this year we felt it was time to give our dogs and cats a chance in the pumpkin limelight. The key to carving a dog or cat face into your pumpkin is to keep it quite simple. Pick out your pet’s key features and sketch a template to work from.”

Pumpkin-carvers can upload photos of their design onto Battersea’s Facebook page, and the pumpkin with the most “likes” will win its creator a Battersea goodie bag. Enter your pumpkin at www.facebook.com/battersea

To kick-start the competition, Battersea has immortalised one of its longest-standing residents in pumpkin form. Colleen the four year old Husky arrived at the centre in June, as her owner was moving home. Nathalie explained: “Colleen is a real beauty, with distinctive markings and striking blue and brown eyes, so she was the obvious choice to act as our first pumpkin model. We’re hoping her pumpkin is the first of many amazing designs, and can’t wait to see what our supporters create.”

Nathalie’s tip tips for keeping your pet happy this Halloween include:
- If you have pets never use candles in your pumpkin as they could get knocked over. Try a pumpkin light, bicycle light or a torch, which will light up your pumpkin really well. 
- Some dogs can find carved pumpkins frightening, especially if they are lit up at night, so keep an eye out for them on your evening walks and avoid them if your dog seems worried.
- If you carve your own pumpkin don’t let your dog or cat eat the inside, as it could give them an upset stomach.
- If you stock up on chocolate for trick or treaters remember not to leave it by the front door in case your pet decides to treat himself, as chocolate is poisonous for dogs.
- Keep your pet away from the front door if you have trick or treaters in the area as he may become anxious, especially if they are dressed up or making lots of noise.