Ask Teddy

Have a problem, a quandary or a gloomy Tuesday? Write to Teddy. He promises to answer with his whole heart. Send questions to teddy@walthamtimes.org.

Q. Halloween is coming. I feel guilty giving children candy, with all the concerns about artificial dyes, sugar highs and microplastics. What can I give to trick-or-treaters that the kids will enjoy just as much but won’t make me feel so complicit in upholding the Sugar-Junk Food-Industrial Complex?

A: You have come to the right doodle. I am a self-professed foodie. One of my sacred duties as a service dog in-training is observing mealtimes from a respectable distance of two centimeters from the plate. Halloween as a snack-loving pup is simply divine — visitors and LOTS of tasty treats. My humans hand out snack-sized bags of baked potato chips, pretzels and popcorn as an alternative to candy that all the goblins and ghouls can pack in their lunch the next day. For the canines in your life, I would suggest extra-crunchy dog cookies to encourage them to be on their best behavior for all the trick-or-treaters in case they don’t want a big dog hug.