Boo! The Humans Have Lost It

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Culture

Every October, we light candles in pumpkins, wrap ourselves in costumes, and knock on strangers’ doors for candy — without really thinking about why. But Halloween isn’t just a party; it’s a 2,000-year-old echo of something far older, darker, and stranger.

It began as Samhain (pronounced sow-win), the Celtic festival marking the end of harvest and the start of the year’s “dark half.” People believed that on this night, the line between the living and the dead blurred. Fires blazed on hilltops, and villagers disguised themselves in animal skins to confuse wandering spirits.

When Christianity spread through Europe, the festival merged with All Hallows’ Eve — the night before All Saints’ Day — and Samhain’s ghosts, lanterns, and disguises survived under a new name: Halloween.

Irish and Scottish immigrants later brought those customs to America, swapping carved turnips for the bigger, easier pumpkins we know today. Over time, the spooky turned sweet — “souling” for food and prayers became trick-or-treating, and the harvest’s orange paired with winter’s black became the season’s signature colors.

These are great, but for me it is about dressing to be whoever or whatever you want for a day and letting go of your norm. Creativity and imagination run wild. I dress in costume every year and it is on right now for the festivities. I wish you all treats.

Relieving: Always extra in the tank
Kong world: Every dog should be this
Woof or woof: The cutest trick or treaters ever

What’s Wrong With Your Dog?

For humans, Halloween is a highlight reel of candy, costumes, and chaos.
For dogs, it’s the one night a year when the rules of the universe collapse. The door keeps opening, strangers keep shouting, and everyone suddenly smells like sugar and fear. Even the humans start wearing rubber faces and pretending it’s normal.

That’s why so many dogs spend October 31 quietly questioning your life choices. Have we all lost our minds?

But some Halloween traditions were practically made for them. A small spoonful of plain pumpkin? Perfectly fine (and actually good for digestion). Dressing up? Sure - if your pup enjoys attention and the costume doesn’t squeeze, dangle, or itch. The trick is to keep it lighthearted, not layered like armor, and short lived (my dog’s vote).

The real danger isn’t the werewolf on your lawn - it’s what’s in the candy bowl. Chocolate, xylitol, and raisins are toxic for dogs, and even the shiny wrappers can cause trouble. Decorations are sneaky too: flickering candles, fake cobwebs, and dangling cords can turn curiosity into an emergency.

So if you want to give your dog a happy Halloween, skip the sugar rush.
Let them lounge somewhere quiet with a chew toy, a belly rub, and maybe a treat or two that don’t come in a wrapper. They’ll thank you for keeping the monsters - and the mayhem - outside the door.

In your dog’s eyes, Halloween isn’t about tricks or treats.
It’s about surviving the night the humans lose their minds.

Is Last Year’s Sun Damage Showing Up As This Year’s Dark Spots?

You can’t go back in time and prevent sun damage from last year, but you can do something about it this year.

Chuckle

The fib is A. Seeing a spider on Halloween used to be considered a sign that a deceased loved one was watching over you.

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