Keep pets calm during New Year’s Eve
Make sure your pets are safe this New Year's Eve by keeping them calm and avoiding fireworks.
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NELSPRUIT – Every year dozens of animals are lost, injured or die on New Year’s Eve, because of fire crackers and fireworks.
Ensure that your pet will be safe and calm during the night and check with pet sitters or kennels if you’re away on holiday.
If your pet is easy frightened, keep them in a room in the house during the night and frequently check on them. Make sure that all doors and windows the pet could escape through are closed. Also inspect fencing and patch any holes, as many pets get so frenzied that they injure themselves trying to squeeze through small spaces.
Another alternative is to get a tranquilizer from your local veterinarian, which will keep your pet calm and sedated for a few hours.
If your pet does manage to escape, contact the Lowveld SPCA on 082 755 8687. It is wise to contact them first, before you panic and start a door-to-door search or post messages on social networks. Their staff will be on duty to help any animals in danger.
When you are considering buying fireworks, rather buy sparkler sticks which will not frighten your animals. Ensure that any fireworks are used responsibly, far away from animals and under adult supervision.