RSPCA: How to protect animals this firework season

National World - LocalTV

We’re now well in the midst of firework season, but while up to 22million of us are estimated to be gearing up for bonfires and firework displays, the RSPCA have warned how this season impacts our beloved pets. The largest animal welfare charity in the UK has found that half of the UK’s pet owners dread firework season, with 43% admitting they have to change their lifestyle due to unexpected fireworks. In fact, it was further reported that two in five pet owners felt awkward approaching neighbours with the topic of firework noise, with many in fear of creating a divide in their local area. It’s been reported that the firework noise and flashing lights can frighten pets, especially due to their unpredictability. This means a pet could perceive a firework as a threat and turn irritable or into a panic. But, there is some advice if you’d like to make your cat or dog as calm as possible during this time. One tip includes taking your pooch out for a long walk before you expect a firework display to start.

Transcript

00:00The RSPCA gets many calls each year from people that are concerned about the impact of loud

00:07noises and fireworks on their pets, particularly cats, dogs and horses. So today we're asking

00:12people to be considerate. There isn't even an interactive map to tell you how many dogs

00:17and cats are in your particular area. And if you're thinking of going to a firework

00:22display, please go to a public one. But if you're having a private one in your own back

00:26garden, then please let your neighbours know.

00:28What is it about fireworks that really just triggers the animals?

00:32So obviously dogs, cats in particular have very sensitive hearing and loud noises, which

00:40they're not used to, can set off anxiety and stress levels in the animals. We've had many

00:46case studies of animals bolting. So for instance, horses going onto main roads or dogs being

00:57walked and then running off and not being found for many days. So the RSPCA is very

01:03concerned of the impact of fireworks on dogs, cats and horses. And we're recommending people

01:10to also be aware of that, even if they don't have pets themselves, and to be considerate

01:15and talk to their neighbours if they're planning a display. We will be doing another partnership

01:19with Classic FM this fireworks night, just playing classic music, which has been proven

01:24to be a de-stressor for dogs and cats. And also in extreme cases, there are veterinary

01:30medication that you can use as well. So the RSPCA has been asking the government, who

01:35changed the law nearly 20 years ago, to bring in better controls about noisy fireworks.

01:44We don't believe that the entertainment that fireworks gives depends on the amount of noise

01:48they make. There are some very good fireworks, which are low level noise. So the RSPCA believes

01:52there's a number of things the government could do.

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