It's Friday and you only have one week left to finalize your Halloween costume (but maybe let your dog skip it—see below).

🌦️Today's weather: Coast — Chance of showers, cloudy, then sunny, with a high 68; Inland — Sight chance of showers, partly sunny, high 70.

🎧 Sounds like: "If Dogs Run Free" by Bob Dylan

🎂 Happy birthday to our members Bob Cunningham and Stacey Moore!

Today’s newsletter is 1,002 words — a 4-minute read.

What's more adorable than a dachshund dressed as a hot dog, or a golden retriever dressed as a lion, or a shiba dressed as really anything? Turns out, all that seasonal cute may not be great for your furry friend.

The big picture: That's right. Those super fun Halloween costumes can be super stressful for most dogs.

• Many dogs freeze when you put clothes or costumes on them. That makes for an easy picture, but that stillness can be a sign of stress, according to Gary Weitzman, a veterinarian and San Diego Humane Society president and CEO.

"Only dress your pet in clothing if they're comfortable, and keep the experience positive," he told Axios. "Use treats as a reward and take your time putting on clothes or costumes. If your pet needs to take a break or looks uncomfortable, try again later."

• A simple Halloween bandana might be a better option, he added.

Pets aren't props, Austin Hale, spokesperson for Helen Woodward Animal Center, told Axios.

• "They're living beings with their own likes and dislikes," he said. "That means that if they're not happy wearing a Halloween costume, you should respect that and not subject them to it."

Yes, but: That doesn't mean you shouldn't try to doll your pup up for a photo.

• "But if at any point they show signs they're not happy with wearing one, then take the costume off; it's not worth it," he said.

How to tell if your dog isn't feeling it: Track your pet's overall body language, according to veterinarian Kelly Hood, speaking for Pet Health Digest.

🐶 Watch your dog's face. Repeated lip licking when there's no food, yawning when not tired, turning away and pulling the ears back can signal discomfort. So can suddenly freezing, crouching or tucking the tail.

🐱 Read your cat's posture. Flattened or sideways ears, a low crouch and a tail held tightly against the body can be warning signs. Purring alone doesn't necessarily mean your cat is happy.

🙈 Respect the retreat. If your pet backs away, hides or avoids touch, those are cues to give pets space.

📸 Put the camera down. End the photo session when your pet becomes tense or tries to leave.

💭 Claire's thought bubble: My dog Kima shuts down when you put any clothes on her. She'll freeze in place.

• I feel bad saying this, but we usually dress her up anyway for our family costume theme.
• But only for a quick picture, then we take the costume off.

What do you think? Do you dress up your dog? Do they like it? Reply and let us know.

Tell a dog owner

Speaking of pets, once again Luna tops the list for local pet names.

Yes, but: Some quirkier choices are gaining ground, according to data from Rover.

What's trending: Tilly was San Diego's fastest-rising dog name, jumping 327%.

• Followed by Taco (up 202%) and Maui (up 198%).
• Monkey and Roxy tied as the fastest-growing cat names, each up 541%.
• Followed by Beau (up 291%).

Zoom in: San Diego's personality is showing up in our pet names, with locally inspired monikers including Taco, Paloma, Kelp, Surf, Torrey and Pine.

Caveat: These trends are just for the pets in Rover's database, not all pets in San Diego.

Tell a pet owner

🏗️ City leaders are pushing to temporarily block building data centers after one was proposed for downtown. (CBS 8)

• But there's little they can do about that project because it's proposed on federal land.

🚘 Police promised to stop using "other" as a reason for searching license-plate reader data. Officers chose that option almost 4,000 times this year.(Times of San Diego)

📷 Meanwhile, El Cajon police will keep sharing license-plate data with the federal government.

• That's despite the fact California Attorney General Rob Bonta is suing them over it. (ABC 10News)

🏫 San Diego Unified opened school-choice applications for 2027-28.

• Families can apply to up to three schools outside their neighborhood, with priority applications due Nov. 15. (CBS 8)
  

We made it to the weekend! Now make some plans.

🎃 Halloween Aglow: Watch divers carve pumpkins underwater, trick-or-treat through the aquarium and explore slime science at Birch Aquarium today and tomorrow, 6–8:30pm.

🧘 Strength in the City Festival: Sample more than 20 fitness and wellness classes, including yoga, Pilates and dance at Waterfront Park tomorrow, 9am–2pm. Admission is free for kids under 16.

🎨 Sip, Soar & Celebrate San Diego: Help color a community mural, play carnival games and enjoy ice cream floats at this free block party at Balboa Park's Plaza de Panama tomorrow, noon–4pm.

🐶 Boards & Barks: Play chess, UNO, Catan and more at Pure Pawsh in North Park tomorrow, 5–9pm, with all ticket sales benefiting the San Diego Humane Society.

🖼️ Art After Dark: Put your Halloween costume to an early test at Oceanside Museum of Art's surrealism-inspired party, featuring music, drinks and a costume competition tomorrow, 7–11pm. Ages 21 and up.

👻 Trick-or-Treat on India Street: Collect candy from Little Italy businesses, enter a costume contest and snap a photo with a 13-foot Jack Skellington Sunday, 3:30–7:30pm. Admission is free.

More events

And we have a winner! With a whopping 75% of the vote, Anchorman's Ron Burgundy wins as the best local Halloween costume.

• There's always next year, Tatís.

I better start shopping for a fake mustache and polyester suit.

🥳 Claire is celebrating one year at Axios! Axios was a good choice!

👩🏻‍🍼 Kate is on parental leave.

This newsletter was edited by Geoff Ziezulewicz, who believes Claire was a good choice as well.