Importance of keeping your pet safe on bonfire night

Bonfire night is an exciting time of the year for many of us but it is important to remember our animals may not feel the same excitement and may in fact be frightened and distressed. It is crucial to plan ahead and keep your pets safe and calm on November 5th. This also applies to Christmas and New Years Eve where people regularly set off fireworks.

Bonfire night is a celebration of the night that Guy Fawkes attempted to blow up the House of Parliament in London. On bonfire night both private and public celebrations take place. It is normal practice for firework displays and bonfires. It is a fun British tradition that all the family can enjoy. Unfortunately pets do not like the celebrations. The RSPCA state that 45% of dogs in the UK show signs of fear when they hear fireworks. Many pets go missing on or around the 5th November. Pets try to ‘get away’ from the situation and often run away hoping to get away from the scary noise.

Prevention can be taken to help keep your pets safe. Always keep your dog inside with doors and windows locked. When taking your dog out to the toilet, put them on a lead and stay with them. It is highly recommended to get your dog micro chipped or tagged in case they do go missing. It is always nice to distract your dogs when the fireworks are going off. If possible give them lots of extra attention and play with them – you may even turn a distressing experience into a pleasant, fun one. If this is not possible leave a radio or television on to distract them. If the problem persists and your dog is really anxious and distressed every year it may be worth speaking to a vet about the different options available to you for example the use of sedatives.

Make sure that you think about your dog before going to a local bonfire and fireworks display and leaving them on their own. By taking some simple steps your dog will feel much calmer and relaxed. You can prevent your dog from injury and stress but should the unfortunate situation occur be sure to protect your wallet and take out dog insurance. E&L dog insurance will offer cover for vet fees, the costs of advertising and reward, and even offer you membership of The National Pet Register for £1 a year. This is a lost and found 24/7 service. Visit www.eandl.co.uk/dog today for more information or to take out instant cover.

Source: www.best-catcare.com/506/keeping-pets-safe-on-bonfire-night/ 24th December 2009