Keeping your Animals Safe this Bonfire Night
With Bonfire night on the horizon, it's important to be mindful of your beloved pets. Whilst we can understand the bangs and loud noises, they are very hard to explain to our animals and as a result the fear they feel can be extreme.
So just what can you do to help keep your pets safe as we head towards Bonfire Night?
The RSPCA has published a guide on their website listing just how to keep cats, dogs and other small animals calm during fireworks. They include:
- Walking your pooch during daylight hours only to avoid being out when fireworks are being let off
- Closing windows and curtains to help muffle the sound of fireworks
- Playing music or having the TV on whilst fireworks are being let off to drown the sound of the fireworks
- Keeping cats inside during the night to avoid them becoming stressed by the sound of fireworks. It's worth considering whether you can bring other outdoor pets such as rabbits and guinea pigs inside for the duration of Fireworks night.
- Provide extra bedding for animals to burrow into
- Partly cover any outdoor cages and pens with blankets to help muffle the sound whilst ensuring that remains a section for the animals to look out at their surroundings.
- Microchipping pets, or if they are already microchipped, ensure that the contact information is up to date. This is so that if they are startled by fireworks and run off they can be returned home.
- Create a quiet place within your house that your dog feels comfortable being in, making it into a hiding place for them to escape to without putting them at risk. They refer to this as a ‘Dog Safe Den’ and have produced an instructional video to help you create one – check out this video here: https://youtu.be/m3krrbz_Dr8
You can read the RSPCA’s advice for yourself here: https://www.rspca.org.uk/adviceandwelfare/pets/general/fireworks
The British Horse Society has also produced a specific list detailing how to keep horses safe during fireworks night. Actions they advise include:
- Checking your local area to find out where any firework displays are taking place, contact the organisers and ask for the display to be moved to a more suitable location or held as far away from your horses as possible.
- Keep your horse in its familiar environment with its normal routine, however, consider alternative arrangements if they are going to be close to where fireworks are set off.
- If your horse is stabled during fireworks night then make sure you check the stable for anything that could cause injury and ensure that it has been removed or is safely secured.
- If your horse is kept in a field during fireworks night then make sure that the fencing for the field is secure.
- It is advised that either yourself or someone experienced stays with your horse during known local displays to help keep them calm.
- Know your horse and plan accordingly, whether you need to move them or consult a vet.
You can read the full list of advice from the British Horse Society’s here: https://www.bhs.org.uk/advice-and-information/potential-hazards/fireworks
However you are spending fireworks night, keep your pets safe and calm.
Happy Bonfire Night.