Sonic booms and fighter plane fly-bys: Your pet’s nightmare might come true this weekend

The skies around Pretoria might be in for a busy few days as the African Aerospace and Defence expo kicks off at the Waterkloof airforce base this week.

The expo is set to hit Pretoria this week with noise warnings issued from 09:00 to 18:00 from Wednesday, September 21, to Sunday, September 25.

While the expo is expected to delight and intrigue attendees with a wonderful airshow and various exhibitions, your pets might not be as excited as the show might bring some loud and strange sounds that your furry friend might not be used to.

Therefore, it is important to think about the little critters and to help them feel calm and comfortable, especially if you know they are sensitive to the big and scary sounds.

Rekord spoke to a Centurion SPCA spokesperson who said that the most important thing is to preempt your pet’s reaction. Remember that most of the noise will be during the day, so it is possible that your pet will be home alone during the worst of it.

The spokesperson said it is important to know your animals and how they would respond to stressful situations. “Know your animal, and if you know your animal will be nervous or skittish, consult your vet to get some calming medication.”

She stressed the point of looking out for fur babies by thinking ahead for them. And not just your dogs and cats, animals like birds can become frightened too.

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The spokesperson also suggested bringing your pets indoors while these disruptions are going on. Make sure there are no hazards that could break or could hurt your animals. A stressed pet may try to hide or run away, so make sure they will not hurt themselves in the process. “Remember to keep them calm, with their favourite blankets and other objects.”

If you are worried about your own animal, taking steps such as the ones above, and calling your vet beforehand for strategies and medications that can help, will protect the little critters. However, strays and lost animals can also become frightened by loud noises and sudden changes. Be careful when approaching strange animals, and call the SPCA if you are worried about a stray or lost animal on 012 664 5644 or 082 807 5671 for emergencies.

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