Fireworks - It's no party for pets!

RSPCA Animal Behaviour and Training Coordinator, Sue Jaensch urges all animal owners to ensure their pets are safe and secure during New Year celebrations.

Fireworks and noisy festivities can cause animals to become distressed and escape from their properties, run into the street resulting in possible accidents or even death.

Sue said, �Animals can become terrified at the sound of fireworks or thunder and their initial reaction is to escape the noise and seek a secure and safe area. In some cases, the animal may be out in a yard with no one home and if they are unable to gain access inside, they will be become distressed and will do anything to seek a secure area, even scale fences or walls you thought were impassable.

�In recent years we have had some very tragic stories of dogs and cats scaling two metre high fences to escape the noise and others running away only to be injured or killed by motor vehicles.

�RSPCA Shelters will receive hundreds of extra dogs following major fireworks displays.�

There are options for responsible pet owners to ensure their animal is safe and secure.

� Contain your animal in your house or garage overnight, ensure there is a comfortable bed, plenty of water
        and some food available.
� Leave your pet with a friend or family member who is not going out.
� Host a New Year celebration at home, so that you are there to keep your pet company on this unpredictable
        night.
� Ensure your pet wears appropriate identification at all times, just in case they do escape.
� It is a definite advantage if the pet is microchipped.
� If your dog becomes distressed during fireworks/thunder, speak to your local veterinarian as they maybe
        able to recommend something to help keep animals calm

Horses are also particularly vulnerable when exposed to fireworks. Horses can become terrified at the sound of fireworks and their initial reaction is to escape the noise and seek a secure and safe area. Whether the horse is in a yard or paddock, they may become distressed and do anything to seek a secure area.

Just as important is the need to view the area where the fireworks display is to take place to ensure that farm animals are not exposed to the noise.