Tips for calming pets during firework season

The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ (NPSCA) website suggests the following for calming your animals during fireworks displays.

• More family pets will run away from home during holidays involving fireworks than any other day of the year. As a precautionary measure in case your pets are frightened and run away, make sure your animals have identification tags or microchips to ensure that they are returned safely when they are found.
• If possible, stay home with your animals if you suspect fireworks fiends are about.
• If you can’t be home with your animals, keep them inside. Make sure that your pets have access to their favourite “safe place” or find a quiet, comfortable, enclosed room where your pets can “hide” if they need to. Ensure that they cannot break through a window or slip out of a door.
• Attempt to mask any noise by drawing curtains and playing calming music at a reasonable volume.
• Put familiar and comforting things around them such as toys, baskets etc.
• Provide them with something to do such as giving your dog a chewy bone or lots of catnip or a catnip toy for felines.
• If your pets do react badly to fireworks, then seek professional advice from your veterinarian ahead of time.
• Give your pets a hearty and nutritious meal around nightfall. This will make them more likely to be sleepy.