Keeping pets safe and sound around fireworks

Fireworks can be very scary for pets Bonfire night is an exciting time for you humans but have you ever thought about how your pets feel with all the loud scary noises and flashing lights? Bonfire night can be really frightening and stressful for many animals because they don’t understand what is going on! Here’s some top tips to keep your pets safe and sound this fireworks season.

Dogs Walk us early when it’s still light to avoid fireworks. Close the curtains to block out the flashing lights. Give us some tasty food like a knuckle bone or rawhide chew to distract us. Leave the TV or radio on so we can’t hear the noise so much. Let us hide if we want to..that’s our way of feeling safe!

Cats Keep us inside – remember, you may have to block up the cat flap! Give us a catnip toy to help us forget about the noise. Let us hide if we want to..we may go under a bed or behind the sofa! Leave the TV or radio on so we can’t hear the bangs so much.

Give us lots of extra bedding to snuggle and burrow into. Small animals If you can’t move us inside, cover most of our hutch with blankets to keep out the noise. Give us lots of extra bedding to snuggle and burrow into. If we live outside, try moving us indoors to a garage or shed just for Bonfire night. If we live indoors, keep the windows and curtains closed so we can’t hear the loud noises as much.

Keep us in our familiar environments and normal routines. Field animals Make your neighbours and local fireworks display organisers aware that you have field animals so they can ensure fireworks are set off well away from us. If you know we react badly to loud noises speak to the vet or consider moving us for the night. Keep us in our familiar environments and normal routines.

Organised events are best! Letting fireworks off in your garden could easily scare yours or your neighbour’s pets. Going to an organised event, instead of having fireworks in your back garden is best for everyone! People with pets know when these events are and can make sure their pets are feeling safe. The fireworks at organised events are usually bigger and better than any you can buy in shops and much safer!

To find out more about keeping your pets safe and sound this fireworks season, please visit: www.woodgreen.org.uk/fireworks