|
Fireworks
Are No Fun For Pets
Fireworks are very popular
nowadays. They are no longer confined to special occasions like
Bonfire Night in the UK and Independence Day in the US, and on
every occasion, most animals are terrified of the noises. Follow
a few easy tips and make it more bearable for animals too.
By: Debbie Boffa
Its 24th October here in the UK and
bonfire night approaches. The shops are full of fireworks and
the kids are clamouring to buy them. You can already hear odd
ones going off during the day where they just can’t wait, and my
dog, who is nervous at the best of times has already started to
react to them. He’s really scared by any loud noise and
fireworks have him trembling and whining all night.
What makes me saddest is that there is nothing I can really do
to stop it, I can only try to make him more comfortable. At
least I do try. I am completely horrified by the way that some
thoughtless people treat there pets on such occasions.
I have seen people taking dogs to firework parties, leaving them
in the car whilst they attend a display, leaving animals outside
completely unprotected in any way from the noise and bright
lights, and even a poor horse left out in a field right next to
a firework display. Are we thoughtless or just plain uncaring? I
have to believe in the former so, I am going to treat it as that
and again list what you can do to help your pet over these (or
any other) very noisy occasions.
What are the signs that your pet is scared
Shaking, trembling
Excessive drooling
Barking, howling
Trying to hide or get into / out of the house, fence, or other
enclosure
Refusing to eat food
Some animals may have loose bladder or bowel control or
experience temporary diarrhea from prolonged stress
Please be aware though that these are general signs that
something is wrong, they can also relate to other ailments, so
if in doubt see your vet.
This is how you can really help your pet during fireworks
LEAVE your dogs at home please; if you attend a display – don’t
take them with you or leave them in the car, it’s just not fair.
Even the most stable dog will hate the sudden noises, and that
includes Guide Dogs who can get really upset and this can affect
their normally great performance as a guide. If you must go out
then don’t make a big deal about leaving them, keep it all as
normal as possible, and make sure you leave all the curtains
closed and the TV on.
At home let them find a place to hide in if that’s what they
like to do, and leave them there. If they whine and pace around,
let them alone, it’s their way of dealing with it. If they want
a cuddle they will ask you. If your pet is in a cage indoors
then cover it with a blanket. If you can get the dog or cat into
a carrier or cage they will feel much safer (if they are used to
it of course, if they never go into one then don’t force them
now). Don’t forget to put their favourite toy in with them.
Close the curtains and put on the TV or music and keep it as
loud as you can bear. This will block out some of the outside
noise. I have a TV in most rooms so I turn each one on (to a
different channel) and for one night ignore the
environmentalists who would have me turn off the ones I am not
watching – sorry folks but tonight my dog is more important.
If the animals are outside in hutches or cages, give them extra
bedding to burrow into and cover the hutch with a heavy blanket
to keep out as much light as possible. If your horses are out
please bring them into stables or if they don’t have stables
then make sure that they are as far away from any potential
fireworks as possible.
If they are stressed, and behaving badly please don’t shout at
them, this will only make it worse. Dogs and cats left indoors
on their own will often do damage if they are scared. Take
precautions if you must leave them and put them into a safe,
smaller place like a carrier or crate (not a cupboard!) but an
area where they can make a nest to curl up in. My mums dog heads
for the wardrobe every time and curls up in the back of it – she
seems to feel safe there and it’s dark. Remember that if really
stressed they are also very likely to hurt themselves as well.
What else can you do?
Some people say that Bach’s Rescue Remedies can work and also
aromatherapy. You can also get a Dog Appeasing pheromone
treatment from your vet that is well worth trying, and they have
therapeutic music to play that should calm your pet. I
personally think that the use of music is really good, but what
I am trying to do is drown out the outside noise and the bright
lights.
The main thing is to make sure that your animal is secure. Close
windows and outside doors and lock them if you have a Houdini
Dog like mine who can open most doors. Don’t forget to block the
dog or cat flap. Dogs have been known to burrow under fences,
break windows and jump huge fences in a bid to escape loud
noises if they have been left outside. Don’t walk them at night
either, do it during the day, and keep them on a leash just in
case any are let off early.
The days following firework events can be a nightmare for animal
shelters as all
the escaped animals who have fled in panic are brought in, and
you’d be surprised at how far they can go when scared. Put some
thought into caring for your pet and take the load off the
shelters. After all, you asked for your pet – he didn’t ask for
you. It’s your responsibility to take good care of him.
| About the author: Debbie Boffa has
a rescued Briard called Arnie that has taken some real
dedication to get around his poor start in life. Her experiences
have lead to her new book ‘Dog Obedience Training’ and a new
website
www.trainingdogsrus.com. She’d love to see you there to get
your FREE dog training tips!
|
|
BOOK OF
THE WEEK
"The
monks of New Skete have been breeding and training dogs at
their New York monastery for more than 20 years. Their
philosophy of raising dogs accentuates the essential
human-canine bond, whereby owners must learn to understand a
dog's instincts, needs, and behavior.
|
| |
|
© 2006 Debbie Boffa |
