sylvestter
12-31-2007, 08:07 AM
Dogs and Cats:
- Feed, exercise and play with your dog or cat during the day so that they are calmer and a bit worn out by the time fireworks are being set off. Also, this will ensure that their bowels are emptied before fireworks are set off, which can save you from extra cleaning and save your pet from embarrassment if they soil themselves.
- Keep your dog or cat indoors when fireworks are likely to be set off. It may be a good idea to bring them inside as soon as the sun sets as many people set off fireworks long before midnight. Keep your pets indoors even if they are not afraid of the fireworks, as these pets may sniff or play with fireworks, resulting in burns.
- Close all doors, windows and curtains and switch on music or the television to drown out the noise. Make sure that there are no spaces through which your pet can squeeze and get out of your house.
- Leave your dog or cat to take refuge - in a corner, under a bed, in the bathroom - if it wishes. Do not try to tempt it out as this could cause more stress. Provide toys, blankets or any other item that your pet finds comforting. Kong toys may be distracting enough for some pets to shift their focus off of the fireworks.
- Be calm, act normal and do not soothe your pet too much, as this may reinforce your pet's idea that being nervous is the correct behaviour.
- Never show anger to your pet if it cries, hides, paces around, soils itself, digs or becomes destructive.
- If you cannot keep your pet indoors, then make sure that they have a very secure kennel or carrier. You can cover the kennel or carrier with blankets to aid in blocking out light and sound, but ensure there is adequate ventilation. Make sure that the kennel or carrier is strong enough to withstand your pet scratching and pounding at it.
- DO NOT CHAIN YOUR PET. Animals have damaged their necks, strangled and hung themselves in an effort to get away from fireworks while chained. Also, chains can break and your pet may disappear.
- If no one will be at home to observe your pets and especially if your pets have a history of reacting badly to fireworks, speak to a veterinarian about getting oral tranquilisers. Be sure to remind/tell your veterinarian if your pet is on any medications and if your pet has any health problems, e.g. seizures, heart problems, liver problems etc. Know your pet's weight as the dose of tranquilisers depends on the weight of your pet. Tranquilisers are a good idea if no one can observe the animal as pets have broken through windows, kennel doors and have severely damaged themselves or died while trying to escape.
- Consider getting someone to house-sit or pet-sit for the night.
- You can also board your pets at veterinary clinics or the Trinidad and Tobago Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Northern Branch for that night.
- Make sure your dog or cat has some form of identification in case it becomes lost, such as a tag, collar or microchip. For cats, use an elastic collar, which can prevent them from being strangled if the collar becomes hooked.
- Have current photos of your pets in case they become lost.
- Contact the Trinidad and Tobago Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Northern Branch (622-1367/628-1615) or the Animal Welfare Network (627-3449 - Voicemail only) if your pet becomes lost and provide photos.
- After the fireworks are over, inspect your yard and remove any debris from fireworks as they may be harmful to your pet.
Caged animals (such as rabbits, guinea pigs, birds etc.):
- If these animals live outside and the cages are small enough to be moved, bring them in for the night. Keep them in a dark, quiet room and close all doors, windows and curtains.
- For those that use bedding, provide extra so that they can burrow into it or provide something for them to hide in, e.g. a shoe box.
- Cover cages with blankets to aid in blocking out light and noise, but make sure to leave gaps for air ventilation.
- Cover outdoor cages and aviaries to block out the sights and sounds of fireworks, but make sure to leave gaps for air ventilation.
- Consider getting someone to house-sit or pet-sit for the night.
- After the fireworks are over, inspect your yard and remove any debris from fireworks as they may be harmful to your pet.
Larger animals and livestock:
- Stable all animals if possible as this would prevent them from bursting though fences, impaling themselves while trying to jump over fences and running onto the road thereby causing accidents.
- If they cannot be stabled then ensure the area in which they are kept is very secure, with tall, sturdy, gap-free fences or walls. Provide a shed or some other structure under which they can hide.
- Have someone stay with them to observe their behaviour and summon help if necessary.
- Pregnant animals have been known to abort due to fireworks, so take special care to shelter them from the sights and sounds of fireworks.
- After the fireworks are over, inspect your pastures and yard and remove any debris from fireworks as they may be harmful to your animals.
Aquatic animals in outdoor ponds:
- Cover ponds with mesh to prevent fireworks from falling into the pond.
- Provide plants, rocks, hollow bricks, pipes or other objects in the pond so that the animals can hide under them.
- Inspect the pond after the fireworks are over just in case any fireworks still managed to fall into the water.
Wild animals:
- Please do not set off fireworks near trees or forested areas as this is a fire risk and can frighten wild animals.
- Wild birds are easily frightened off of their nests or may abandon their nests, causing eggs to get cold and nestlings to die.
- Birds may also fly into buildings in fright.
- Other animals may run onto roadways, fall into ditches etc. in fright.
And remember to please be considerate to your neighbours. If you plan on setting off fireworks, then warn your neighbours in advance so that the appropriate arrangements can be made. Also clean up any debris left behind by fireworks so as not to cause harm to people, animals and the environment.
Tips courtesy Raymond Deonanan, D.V.M. (Distinction) and the ANIMAL WELFARE NETWORK.
http://www.animalwelfarenetwork.org
- Feed, exercise and play with your dog or cat during the day so that they are calmer and a bit worn out by the time fireworks are being set off. Also, this will ensure that their bowels are emptied before fireworks are set off, which can save you from extra cleaning and save your pet from embarrassment if they soil themselves.
- Keep your dog or cat indoors when fireworks are likely to be set off. It may be a good idea to bring them inside as soon as the sun sets as many people set off fireworks long before midnight. Keep your pets indoors even if they are not afraid of the fireworks, as these pets may sniff or play with fireworks, resulting in burns.
- Close all doors, windows and curtains and switch on music or the television to drown out the noise. Make sure that there are no spaces through which your pet can squeeze and get out of your house.
- Leave your dog or cat to take refuge - in a corner, under a bed, in the bathroom - if it wishes. Do not try to tempt it out as this could cause more stress. Provide toys, blankets or any other item that your pet finds comforting. Kong toys may be distracting enough for some pets to shift their focus off of the fireworks.
- Be calm, act normal and do not soothe your pet too much, as this may reinforce your pet's idea that being nervous is the correct behaviour.
- Never show anger to your pet if it cries, hides, paces around, soils itself, digs or becomes destructive.
- If you cannot keep your pet indoors, then make sure that they have a very secure kennel or carrier. You can cover the kennel or carrier with blankets to aid in blocking out light and sound, but ensure there is adequate ventilation. Make sure that the kennel or carrier is strong enough to withstand your pet scratching and pounding at it.
- DO NOT CHAIN YOUR PET. Animals have damaged their necks, strangled and hung themselves in an effort to get away from fireworks while chained. Also, chains can break and your pet may disappear.
- If no one will be at home to observe your pets and especially if your pets have a history of reacting badly to fireworks, speak to a veterinarian about getting oral tranquilisers. Be sure to remind/tell your veterinarian if your pet is on any medications and if your pet has any health problems, e.g. seizures, heart problems, liver problems etc. Know your pet's weight as the dose of tranquilisers depends on the weight of your pet. Tranquilisers are a good idea if no one can observe the animal as pets have broken through windows, kennel doors and have severely damaged themselves or died while trying to escape.
- Consider getting someone to house-sit or pet-sit for the night.
- You can also board your pets at veterinary clinics or the Trinidad and Tobago Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Northern Branch for that night.
- Make sure your dog or cat has some form of identification in case it becomes lost, such as a tag, collar or microchip. For cats, use an elastic collar, which can prevent them from being strangled if the collar becomes hooked.
- Have current photos of your pets in case they become lost.
- Contact the Trinidad and Tobago Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Northern Branch (622-1367/628-1615) or the Animal Welfare Network (627-3449 - Voicemail only) if your pet becomes lost and provide photos.
- After the fireworks are over, inspect your yard and remove any debris from fireworks as they may be harmful to your pet.
Caged animals (such as rabbits, guinea pigs, birds etc.):
- If these animals live outside and the cages are small enough to be moved, bring them in for the night. Keep them in a dark, quiet room and close all doors, windows and curtains.
- For those that use bedding, provide extra so that they can burrow into it or provide something for them to hide in, e.g. a shoe box.
- Cover cages with blankets to aid in blocking out light and noise, but make sure to leave gaps for air ventilation.
- Cover outdoor cages and aviaries to block out the sights and sounds of fireworks, but make sure to leave gaps for air ventilation.
- Consider getting someone to house-sit or pet-sit for the night.
- After the fireworks are over, inspect your yard and remove any debris from fireworks as they may be harmful to your pet.
Larger animals and livestock:
- Stable all animals if possible as this would prevent them from bursting though fences, impaling themselves while trying to jump over fences and running onto the road thereby causing accidents.
- If they cannot be stabled then ensure the area in which they are kept is very secure, with tall, sturdy, gap-free fences or walls. Provide a shed or some other structure under which they can hide.
- Have someone stay with them to observe their behaviour and summon help if necessary.
- Pregnant animals have been known to abort due to fireworks, so take special care to shelter them from the sights and sounds of fireworks.
- After the fireworks are over, inspect your pastures and yard and remove any debris from fireworks as they may be harmful to your animals.
Aquatic animals in outdoor ponds:
- Cover ponds with mesh to prevent fireworks from falling into the pond.
- Provide plants, rocks, hollow bricks, pipes or other objects in the pond so that the animals can hide under them.
- Inspect the pond after the fireworks are over just in case any fireworks still managed to fall into the water.
Wild animals:
- Please do not set off fireworks near trees or forested areas as this is a fire risk and can frighten wild animals.
- Wild birds are easily frightened off of their nests or may abandon their nests, causing eggs to get cold and nestlings to die.
- Birds may also fly into buildings in fright.
- Other animals may run onto roadways, fall into ditches etc. in fright.
And remember to please be considerate to your neighbours. If you plan on setting off fireworks, then warn your neighbours in advance so that the appropriate arrangements can be made. Also clean up any debris left behind by fireworks so as not to cause harm to people, animals and the environment.
Tips courtesy Raymond Deonanan, D.V.M. (Distinction) and the ANIMAL WELFARE NETWORK.
http://www.animalwelfarenetwork.org