I love fall and decorating with Indian corn, and pumpkins and I love the Halloween decorations of jack-o-lanterns, and black cats. If you have pets, though, you need to consider how well your decorations and your pets mix.

For instance, I love bittersweet, but bittersweet berries don’t love cats and dogs. If ingested, they can cause weakness, convulsions, and vomiting and diarrhea. For that reason, I keep any bittersweet in the center of a table, well away from the edge so that if any berries drop, they will drop on the table surface, and not on the floor where a curious Corgi can find and eat them.

This year, a friend offered to give me some Chinese lanterns for decorating. I love these bright pods, but they are worse than bittersweet. They can cause serious illness or even death. I can’t really imagine either dog eating one of those colorful pods but I’m going to be very cautious. Maybe I’ll just decline my friend’s offer and see if I can find some artificial branches of Chinese lanterns. They’ll keep from season to season and I won’t have to worry. I did that years ago with mistletoe at Christmas, and the substitute looks very real.

If you plan to decorate with jack-o-lanterns or candles, consider using electric candles, or lights that use batteries, instead of open flames. It’s all too easy for a cat, especially, to knock over a candle and a house fire is not the way anyone wants to celebrate Halloween. I don’t have cats, but when I do burn candles, I make sure they’re in the center of a solid table so that there’s little danger of the candle falling over. For the most part, I’ve converted to the small battery-operated lights. They may not be as pretty as real flame, but they’re much safer.

Another threat to pets can be the treats that abound at Halloween. Chocolate can be deadly for both dogs and cats, so no sharing any of the treats you’ve been handing out at the door. If your treat of choice is a box of healthy raisins, keep in mind that raisins are healthy for humans but can cause kidney failure in your dog. If you want to share a few treats with your pets, buy something made specifically for your cat or dog.

Costumes are a favorite part of Halloween for many people, but they may not be on your pet’s list of favorite things. Dogs may be frightened not only of ghosts and zombies but also of fairy princesses. Don’t let your dog jump or bite at any of your trick-or-treat visitors.

I’m not much for dressing up my Corgis, but many pets don’t seem to mind wearing clothes and if your cat or dog is comfortable wearing a costume, that’s fine. Just make sure that costumes are lightweight and fit comfortably. Don’t use a costume that restricts your pet’s movement, and don’t make it too tight. Your pet could panic if she feels trapped. Don’t make the costume with too many pieces that stick out, or have long, flowing fabric, either. That makes it too easy for something to get caught on furniture, or shrubbery, and your pet could get injured.

Buy or make your pet’s costume ahead of time, so that he can get used to it. You might just place it on the floor and let him sniff it and get used to it. Put on one part at a time. Treat your pet and praise him for leaving the costume on.

Whether you buy a costume, or make one, always supervise your pet while she’s wearing it. She may be fine for the first half hour or so, but then the costume may start to be uncomfortable. It may be getting too warm, or some part of the costume may be starting to rub and irritate. Know when your pet has had enough.

Whether your pet is wearing a costume or not, watch your pet carefully. If there’s a chance your pet might get out the door as it’s opening to visitors, confine them to another room, or put them in crates or carriers until the evening is over. You won’t have to wonder where they are and they won’t be frightened by neighborhood Ninjas or tempted to run away from home.

Keep your fall decorating safe as well as pretty, and, with a little planning, you can make Halloween both fun and safe.