How to keep your pets safe over Bonfire Night weekend
BY Blue Cross
3rd Nov 2023 Animals & Pets
2 min read
National pet charity Blue Cross explains why fireworks, with loud bangs and bright flashes, can make Bonfire Night and the surrounding days a scary time for pets. Here's what you can do to make your dog or cat as relaxed as possible
Bonfire Night can be among the
most terrifying times of year for some of our cats and dogs.
National pet charity Blue Cross has some top
tips on how you can keep your pet safe and sound.
Why do fireworks pose a problem for pets?
Pets can become very frightened by the bangs
and flashes caused by fireworks and it's possible they could run away and get
lost or even get injured.
"Animals have no idea what the loud bangs and flashes are and can become very stressed and anxious"
Animals have no idea what the loud bangs and
flashes are and can become very stressed and anxious by anything that is out of
the norm or a change in their routine.
How to keep your animals safe
Dogs can find comfort in toys and being around you. Credit: Lyndsey Murphy-Sugrue
- Keep dogs and cats inside when fireworks are being let off
- Make sure your dog is walked earlier in the day before the fireworks start
- Close all windows and doors and block off cat-flaps to stop pets escaping and to keep noise to a minimum. Draw the curtains, and if the animals are used to the sounds of TV or radio, switch them on (but not too loudly) to block out some of the noise of the fireworks.
- Prepare a "den" for your pet where it can feel safe and comfortable—perhaps under a bed with some of your old clothes. They may like to hide there when the fireworks start.
- Let your pet pace around, whine, miaow and hide in a corner if they want to. Do not try to coax them out—it’s just trying to find safety and should not be disturbed.
- Stay calm, act normally and give lots of praise for calm behaviour. It’s OK to cuddle and stroke your pet if it helps them relax, but if they prefer to hide under your bed, then let them do this instead.
"Cuddle and stroke your pet if it helps them relax, but if they prefer to hide under your bed, let them do this instead"
- Avoid leaving your pet alone during such potentially upsetting events. If you do have to leave the house, don’t get angry with your pet if you find they have been destructive or toileted after being left on its own. Shouting at a frightened pet will only make them more stressed.
- Never take your dog to a fireworks display
- Small animals in hutches/cages and enclosures should, if possible, be brought into a quiet room indoors, or into a garage or shed.
- Give your pet extra bedding to burrow into so it feels safe.
- If you cannot bring your pet’s hutch inside, you should turn its enclosure around so that it faces a wall or fence instead of the open garden.
- Cover hutches with thick blankets or a duvet to block out the sight of the fireworks and deaden the sound of the bangs, but make sure there is enough ventilation.
Extra bedding to hide in can help your pet feel safe during fireworks or thunderstorms. Credit: fermate
Bonfires can pose a problem as they provide a
dark and cosy hideaway for cats who like to explore and find a quiet place to
snooze.
People should always check their bonfire before lighting it.
Find more expert tips here bluecross.org.uk
Banner photo: Vincent Scherer
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