00:00 A lot of us, including me, have got animals at home and it can be a very, very stressful
00:06 time for them during bonfire when fireworks are let off. They can be very stressed, anxious,
00:11 they can bolt and it's a very worrying time. And for us as a fire service, it's also a
00:17 very worrying time because it's our busiest time of the year.
00:21 For many pet owners, bonfire night can be a worrying time and at Newcastle Dog and Cat
00:26 Shelter that is no different. With many animals to look after, it can be a worry for staff,
00:32 but they always put things into place to create a safe environment for those in their care.
00:38 It's quite unsettling and scary for the animals. They have no idea what's happening. All they
00:42 hear and see is loud noises and flashing lights, so it is really unsettling for pets in our
00:48 homes. So it's all about looking after them and making them feel safe and secure. So muffle
00:53 the noise as much as you can. Close the curtains, turn the TV on, the radio, just do anything
00:58 you can to distract them. But stay with them, make them feel safe and comfortable. If you
01:02 have to go and sit in a different room that's a bit quieter and away from the noise, do
01:06 that. Just do what you need to do to keep your pets safe. Don't walk them, avoid taking
01:11 them out for dog walks on Saturday night in particular. And don't let your cats out. If
01:16 your cat's normally out of wonder, keep it locked in. It's better to be safe than sorry
01:20 with them.
01:21 Of course for the fire service, bonfire night is the busiest time of year with many illegal
01:26 bonfires.
01:27 It's the time where we get the most call outs. There are a lot of illegal bonfires to deal
01:32 with, a lot of fireworks being let off in the street, things like that. Unfortunately
01:36 as well we also are potentially subject to attacks via fireworks and bricks and stones
01:43 and things like that during this period. So for us it's a very, very worrying time because
01:47 our job is to keep the public safe, our job is to keep the community from having devastating
01:53 fires and things like that. And unfortunately the prevalence of fires during bonfire means
01:58 that people are more at risk.
02:01 But despite firefighters being attacked, they are still out supporting their community as
02:06 much as they can during the busy night and have set out advice for those who want to
02:11 celebrate bonfire night.
02:14 What we would always say is go along to an organised display. Let's be honest, the fireworks
02:19 that you can get and use at home aren't all that. The ones that you get from your average
02:24 supermarket, they're fine, but really if you want the impact of bonfire night, go to a
02:29 safe organised display and there are plenty of them. If you go onto our website, you can
02:35 have a look at where the nearest organised displays are in Tyne and Wear. Go along to
02:40 there, you'll get a great show, it's lovely and safe, you'll be with the rest of the community,
02:45 you're going to have a great laugh and it's much, much safer than doing it yourself.
02:50 If you do have pets that need to keep safe this bonfire night, you can visit the RSPCA's
02:56 website for further advice. And those who want to celebrate are being encouraged to
03:00 take the advice from the fire service.
03:03 [BLANK_AUDIO]
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