If you are going away on holiday this season, please consider boarding your pets in the SPCA kennels.
The rates are very reasonable, and you will have peace of mind in knowing that your pets are well taken care of and will be seen to every day.
Please book as soon as possible as the kennels get full at this time of year.
If you are leaving your pets at home, please ask a friend or trusted neighbour to check on them daily. They must see to food, water, exercise if necessary and health – make sure that they have the number for your vet. Also, have a back-up person in mind in case they cannot make it.
Pets must have clean water and fresh food every day – make sure that water is in a container that is stable and cannot easily tip over.
Make sure that your pet wears some form of identification, for example pet tags or microchips. If your pet is an escape artist, contact the SPCA to inform them that you are away, and give them a description of your pet and your contact details. Make sure that all potential escape routes are sealed, for example holes in the fence.
Dogs can become destructive due to boredom, stress and loneliness while you are away. Make sure that ‘naughty’ pets have nothing of value that they can destroy while you are away, and nothing that can be chewed and become a choking hazard. Also, remove any items that can be harmful to your pet, such as loose strings that can choke cats, poisonous plants, food that may go off.
If your pet is particularly prone to loneliness, it is best that they are boarded in kennels or be fostered by friends/family – your neighbours will not thank you for a howling dog over the holidays! If this is not possible, leave items that smell like you or are calming to your pet in the area that they will be kept in.
If you have a cat that uses a litter box, make sure that the person checking on your pet knows to clean the box regularly. Cats that are stressed or lonely can regress in terms of toilet training, and a full litter box can make the situation worse.
Fireworks
Please keep in mind that there will be fireworks on December 31/January 1. Please make sure that your pets are well-confined in your home, as many animals get disturbed/disoriented by the fireworks and run away.
Please have some respect for stressed animals, and if you absolutely must set off fireworks, please confine them to the hour between midnight and 1am on New Year. Please do not allow children to play with fireworks, or allow anyone to indiscriminately set off fireworks at any time other than this. (The Endumeni Municipal By-laws prohibit the setting off of fireworks at any time other than the week of Diwali/Deepavali festivities, Guy Fawkes
Day and New Year’s Day.)
Music that has a strong, repetitive bass beat can mask the sound of fireworks, so pets may be more comfortable with music playing in the background.
If you are leaving your pets at home and they are sensitive to the noise, please arrange that someone be with your pets during this stressful time. Provide calmatives (for the pet) if necessary – consult your vet.
