[Artemisia] Pets & Genuine Monsters

[Dawn Tavares]

This is my annual reminder to keep your pets under close watch for the next 
few weeks.

Every October there seems to be at least one story in the Salt Lake media 
about some poor animal found mutilated to death as part of some "ritual 
sacrifice" to Halloween. Initial reports usually
speculate on the involvement of pagans/wiccans/goths; months later, when an 
arrest is made--if an arrest is ever made--the sadists turn out to be 
drunken teens and adults looking for cheap thrills.

Whether you believe this ugliness occurs in your neighborhood or not--for 
the sake of the animals you love, play it safe.

Keep your cats indoors, especially at night, until November 2 at least. 
Black cats are particularly vulnerable; several of the Utah shelters will 
not allow black cats to be adopted until well past the
holiday. Pure white animals are at risk as well, especially if they're small 
enough to be carried off: guinea pigs, rabbits, puppies. Even farm chickens 
and petting zoo goats have been known to
disappear. Don't let Fluffy be taken to grade school for show-n-tell just 
yet.

Sounds ridiculous, doesn't it? Until their mangled bodies are found...

Little costumed strangers trekking up to the porch light for treats means 
bigger strangers feel free to pull tricks. Most of them are harmless. Most.

Don't let your pet become a victim.

Aurora de Portugal
cat lover,
pet owner,
retired goth

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