THE Amanzimtoti SPCA urges pet owners to keep their animals safe and secure ahead of Guy Fawkes on November 5, as well as the upcoming festive season.

The SPCA’s Michelle Hannan said, “With the season of festivities approaching fast, we know that on many occasions, people will be celebrating with fireworks. This can be detrimental not only to our domestic animals but to humans, wildlife and the environment.”

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She said knowing that animals have more sensitive hearing than humans do should lead people to make sure they are kept inside with either the radio or television on.

Hannan provided the following information about the dangers and safety measures:

• Noises caused by fireworks and firecrackers can lead to loss of hearing and tinnitus. Dogs are known to suffer irreversible hearing loss caused by proximity to the noise.
• Animals can become easily stressed and hurt or even kill themselves trying to get away from a noise they cannot understand. Lots of animals have also run away and been lost when left outside unsupervised. Make sure your animals have visible tags with your contact numbers on their collars or make sure they are microchipped.
• If you are planning on going away on one of these festive occasions, make sure you have someone responsible at home taking care of your animals. Alternatively, board your animals at a local SPCA.
• Calming tablets can be bought in advance at vets and SPCAs to help animals who get anxious when there are loud noises. Calming medicines, especially natural ones, should be started a good few days before the event. A good indication that your animal will be fearful of fireworks, is if they are scared of lightning and thunder. It is not only dogs that fear the loud noises; cats, birds and other animals can be equally affected.

In addition, information she sourced from Animal Ethics states that firecrackers are also poisonous as their explosion releases harmful particles, such as fine dust (PM10,) which is toxic to inhale.

For more information, or to find out about the Amanzimtoti SPCA’s boarding facilities, call 031 904 2424.

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