Pint-sized goblins will be prowling the night on Halloween. They'll fly between houses in search of treats, but the costumed characters won't be concerned about safety.

As fun as Halloween is, the holiday can harbor some hazards for children and pets. Officer Gerald Duty, of the St. Joseph Safety Council, and Rick Smith, manager of the St. Joseph Animal Control and Rescue, offer some safety tips to parents and pet owners.

For children, one safety concern is costumes. Whether cute or spooky, children need to be able to move freely in them and to see where they are going.

"Don't dress up in parents' clothes," Mr. Duty said, adding that the long , baggy clothing and oversize shoes present a tripping hazard.

Mr. Duty also said to try face paint rather than wear a mask. If your child insists on wearing a mask, make sure his or her vision isn't obstructed. Also, put some reflective strips on costumes so that drivers can see your child.

Before the trick-or-treaters hit the street, Mr. Duty recommends having a pre-party at someone's house. That way, children won't be as tempted to sample the sweets. And parents, remind the kids never to eat anything until it has been checked by an adult.

Of course, most parents know that an adult should accompany trick-or-treaters and that the youngsters should only trick-or-treat in their own neighborhood. Candy isn't going to taste any better across town. Mr. Duty also said that trick-or-treaters should only go to houses with lights on, and they should never go inside a house.

And even if the lights are on at a house, trick-or-treaters and their adult supervisors need to make sure that there are no dogs loose in the yard. Mr. Smith says to shine a light into the yard or rattle the fence. Also, pay attention to signs like "Beware of Dog" or "Dog on Premises." They're there for a reason.

"We see an increase in the number of dog bites," Mr. Smith says of Halloween.

One of the main reasons for the bites is that dogs don't recognize people when they are in costumes. The sights and sounds of Halloween can stress or scare even the most social of dogs.

To keep your pet safe on Halloween, Mr. Smith recommends you confine animals in a room in the house or in the garage.

The Humane Society of St. Joseph also recommends that you don't take your dog trick-or-treating. Of course, if you must, make sure that your pet is on a leash and has current ID tags. If your dog bites someone, you are responsible, and Mr. Smith says animal control officers will be on duty on Halloween.

Another tip is to not dress your dog up in a costume unless they love it. Make sure the costume doesn't restrict your pet's ability to move or see. Another tip from the Humane Society of St. Joseph is to make sure costumes don't have small or dangling accessories that your pet could choke on.

Both Mr. Duty and Mr. Smith agree that using common sense is one of the best tips for keeping children and pets safe on Halloween.

Cathy Woolridge can be reached

at cathyw@npgco.com