Microchip your pet this fireworks season
In an effort to encourage pet owners to microchip their pets the animal rights organisation will be hosting a microchipping drive on Wednesday, 19 October from 9.30am to 3pm.
WITH the annual year-end festivities looming ever closer, animal rescue organisations and pet owners are bracing themselves for yet another troublesome period.
The beautiful and breathtaking firework displays of both New Year and Diwali revelers have always been marred by the hundreds of traumatised and displaced animals that seem to follow in the wake of the celebrations. This, despite the city and animal activists’ bid to curb the rampant use of loud bangs.
However, this year the Durban & Coast SPCA has appealed to pet owners to take a proactive response to the festivities by microchipping their beloved pets.
“This is the best way to ensure that you will be reunited with your pet should they go missing during this busy time,” said the SPCA’s Lindsey Concer.
“During this time the SPCA experiences a rise in number of stray animals coming through our doors, and lost reports from worried pet owners start to pour in. Hopefully, one day fireworks will be banned, but for now each pet owners needs to take responsibility for their pets,” she said.
According to Concer, last year the Durban branch took in 250 cats and 468 dogs during the two-week period after Diwali. In an ordinary month, she said, they take in an average of 200 cats and 400 dogs.
In an effort to encourage pet owners to microchip their pets the animal rights organisation will be hosting a microchipping drive on Wednesday, 19 October from 9.30am to 3pm.
The public will be served on a first-come-first-served basis. Microcipping will cost R250 per pet. No documentation needed. All dogs are to be kept on leads and cats in carry cases. Herbal calming medication are also on sale at the SPCA.
The current municipal by-laws permit residents to set off fireworks only on the day of Diwali until 10pm, along with several other conditions. Residents are allowed to light low-hazard fireworks, such as sparklers and fountains, at their private residences, but ‘noisy’ or ‘nuisance’ fireworks, such as air bombs, fountain whistles and screeches, are not permitted.Contact the Durban & Coast SPCA on 031 579 6500.
