Don't forget your pets and animals if fireworks  are close by!
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It isn't just November the 5th that people let off fireworks, Christmas,New Year, Birthday celebrations. They can be a regular event in some countries. In the UK  when celebrating Guy Fawkes night they can start as soon as 3 weeks before, and one week later. At least with the new law in the UK people are not allowed to let off fireworks after 11pm on normal nights and up to midnight on November the 5th.

With the any firework festivities happening near you, we are calling on owners to take extra special care of their pets. The noise of fireworks can shock a pet into running away causing it to become disorientated, lost and frightened.

If you pet isn't micro-chipped make sure that they are wearing a collar with some form of ID tag, this is in case they escape from your garden or house.
 
The main danger time is, of course, during the evening, so it’s a good idea to keep your cats indoors, bring rabbits and guinea pig hutches inside into a garage if you have one, or inside the house, if you are  allowed?

Make sure you exercise your dogs during the day, avoid taking them out as it gets dusk unless you have to.

We advise that owners find out when any big displays are taking place in your area. This means that you can prepare in advance.

It’s also important to make sure pets are in a room where they feel secure and draw the curtains as soon as it is dark. It may help to put some music on, preferably something with repetitive drumbeats and make sure there are places a pet can hide, which is often a comfort for some animals. You can even place some cotton wool into your dogs ear, this will soften the noises.

Another method your vet might prescribe in severe cases are sedatives, take your vets advice and make sure you use them responsibly.

  We often enforce our dogs' fears without realising it and there are ways to desentitise dogs to these sorts of noises. You might bee too late for this year but could try it for next year. Firstly when your dog starts to get agitated and starts trying to hide or comes to you, don't try to console him. Our efforts to tell them it's all alright and try to calm them down are seen by them as us getting highly agitated ourselves. This then tells them that there must be something to be frightened of and we enforce their fears. If you ignore them and pretend that nothing has happened it will help to reduce their fear.

Try to get hold of a recording of fireworks going off. This desensitisation takes a few months so leave yourself plenty of time before next November. Decide what is your dog's favourite pass time. It could be eating or playing games with you or just simple praise from you. Then play the recording at an extremely low level so it is barely audible and entertain your dog the best you can. This fun will relax them and they will be happy. Very gradually over the next weeks to months start to increase the volume of the recording and keep doing whatever activity your dog likes. Your dog will gradually learn to associate the noise with feeling happy and relaxed. You need to do this slowly and be patient. Most dogs should be helped a lot or cured by this method.

Noise, smoke, embers and sparks are all hazardous and can cause real distress to pets. Watch out when you are walking you dog for discarded sparkler wires, these can penetrate your pets feet and cause a nasty injury. If you see any left lying about where dogs are walked, please pick them up and take them home and dispose of them safely..

Our dog Monty isn't frightened of the fireworks, he doesn't  tremble or try to hide, but he thinks it is his key to bark and bark. We now place a cotton wool ball into each ear, as they are large enough, this doesn't bother him and makes the noises softer for him. On the other hand our cat Tinker does get nervous and she benefits from a flower remedy given 4 times a day, we keep her indoors and she just curls up somewhere she feels safe.

If you have horses, donkeys or ponies that live out, try and check them if you can during any prolonged displays or noise. My horses are currently live out, they know their field and although they are startled when the fireworks have loud bangs after a dose of a flower remedy they appear to cope quite well. But it is always best to check on them anyway. If you do have stabling, bring them in and close the door of their stable. Try to be calm when checking them, they can pick up on your body language, so maybe you should have some Rescue Remedy!  Be careful in a darkened field though, normally your horse will do all it can not to knock you over in normal circumstances, but a loud bang and they can become unpredictable and bolt.

I was returning Megan to her field after a ride out, when a young Wood Pigeon gave fright next to the gate just as I released her. She didn't run off just jumped up into the air and landed on my right foot! all 16.2hh of her. Needless to say I had 2 broken bones and damaged nerve endings that took over 2 years to heal properly before the numbness subsided and most importantly of all I couldn't ride out for six weeks. ( that was during the day with no help from fireworks)

Never ride out if it is dusk, the kids in a field behind a hedge letting off fireworks might not know you are there.  Stick to riding out during the day, just to be on the safe side.

Most people are responsible when it comes to approved displays, but there are always the few that think it is great fun just to let let off fireworks around animals, they have no compassion and should be punished by the law if caught.