Black cats get a holiday bump Used to be true -- and in some places still sadly is -- that around this time of year black cats were kept out of the adoption offerings of many animal shelters.

The thinking went that sick pranksters would adopt the cats to torture or kill them as part of some Halloween fright-night activities. These stories were mostly urban myths, but the fear of cat mutilation tied to Halloween killed a lot of cats anyway: They died in shelters rather than being adopted out.

The progressive movement that's sweeping shelters -- the building of no-kill communities nationwide -- has many of today's shelters using any reason to highlight pets who need new homes.

That's why this year, you'll be seeing some shelters focus on the holiday by actually featuring their black feline beauties, in order to get these cats in new homes instead of letting them languish or be killed in shelters for lack of space.

Some Humane Societies are taking it even further, with a "half-price sale" on the adoption of a black cat -- and the slogan, "Going black can save you green."

Of course, all the standard screening for potential adopters will apply in these promotions. But it's a great way to get more good pets in more good homes.

Black pets -- dogs and cats both -- are considered more difficult to place than others.

Theories range from the idea that dark-colored pets seem intimidating to some people to the fact that black pets can be difficult to photograph, making them look like a personality-less dark blob on a shelter's Web site or on Petfinder.com.

Longtime owners of "black goldens" -- aka flat-coated retrievers -- They can vouch for the ebony pets.

Go adopt. You'll have a happier Halloween with a new family member by your side.

Halloween is to veterinarians what April 15 is to accountants, reports Christie Keith in her twice-monthly pet-care column for the San Francisco Chronicle's Web site (www.sfgate.com).

She cites veterinary toxicologist Dr. Steven Hansen of the ASPCA's Animal Poison Control Center (www.aspca.org/apcc) in referencing that candy -- both chocolate and goodies sweetened with xylitol -- can sicken and kill many pets.

Hansen says calls about pets who have become ill after eating candy spike to their highest levels around Halloween, noting that the center manages several thousand of these calls at this time every year.

I guess we're not in the dark about how you feel about dressing up pets. Here @ Dirty Dogs, we realize that putting costumes on pets is fun for people, so if it brings a smile to someone's face, why not?

For those who actually do like pets and are thinking about the holiday, here are some Halloween safety tips:

Costumes: If you buy ready-made, make sure the costume is comfortable and nonrestrictive, and doesn't involve anything that could be hazardous, such as dye or paint. Same goes for anything you make yourself: Be sure it isn't going to cause a problem for your pet, and monitor pets while they're wearing costumes.

Injuries: With the increase in activity, cats and dogs get nervous or excited, and some will take off if they can. That means an increase in animals being hit by cars. Other animals may also be a cause of injury: All those costumed young visitors can trigger territorial instincts or fear-responses in some dogs, who may then become a bite risk. Keep pets confined inside, away from the action, in a crate or behind a closed door.

Food problems: Candy is a problem more for dogs than for cats, because cats are generally picky about what they eat. Not so for most dogs, who'll wolf down candy -- wrappers and all -- if given the opportunity. Keep candy bowls and trick-or-trick bags out of reach of those animals who may be tempted to help themselves

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