Seven ways to protect your pets on New Year’s Eve
Prepare your pets for the nerve-wracking bangs by trying to calm their nerves with these easy tips from the Dolphin Coast SPCA.
While people are popping champagne bottles and lighting fireworks in celebration of the New Year, many pets go through a terrifying night that could end in tragedy.
Durban & Coast SPCA marketing manager Tanya Fleischer urged people to be considerate of pets and their sensitive hearing during the celebrations.
“Dogs have much better hearing than people do, in fact sounds are five times louder to your dog. A cat’s hearing is even more acute – they can hear a grasshopper eating,” said Fleischer.
“It is crucial that you keep your pets indoors if fireworks are being set alight in your neighbourhood. Dogs may chase a firecracker that is thrown, which can cause terrible injuries if the firework explodes in its mouth.”
Prepare your pets for the nerve-wracking bangs by trying to calm their nerves with these easy tips from the Dolphin Coast SPCA:
- Keep them indoors in a familiar room.
- Close the windows and curtains to dampen the bangs.
- Have the TV or radio on to muffle the sound.
- Stay in the room with them and act normally. Pets react to our emotions, so if you are calm, they will feel calm.
- Give them something to do to distract them such as a chewy bone to munch on or catnip toys for cats.
- Get herbal calming medication for your pet from your local vet or the Dolphin Coast SPCA. The medication is most effective when started a week before the expected fireworks, so do not leave it for the last minute.
- Make sure your pets are microchipped.
Unlike a collar, they cannot lose the implanted microchip which makes identifying your pet easy and quick.
Should your pet go missing or you find a lost or stray animal, make sure to report it to the Dolphin Coast SPCA immediately.
Animals are kept at the SPCA for seven days before they are put up for adoption.
For after hours emergencies call the Dolphin Coast SPCA on 087 5500 512.
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