00:00Bonfire night is a stressful time for animals across Bristol. Let's step in to
00:05Holly Hedge to find out how the shelter is affected by the firework season.
00:10So luckily we've got years of preparation to find out what works best here for us
00:14on site but for our more stressful dogs or cats we have more staff on site and
00:19volunteers so we can sit with the nervous ones which really helps them
00:23because having company and someone to talk to really does help and if it's
00:28noise sensitivity Classic FM do a firework radio for dogs and cats which
00:34is really nice it's classical music which really helps soothe and calm them
00:38and if it's they can't hear them but they can see them if it's the flashing
00:43lights that's scaring them we like put sheets up on the windows and just ensure
00:48that someone's there just to keep them nice and calm and settled. We also use
00:52calming sprays which are really good. Pet Remedy do a really nice natural calming
00:57spray and we also have a lady that works for us who does her own version it's
01:02called Recky & Herb and it's all natural scents which has different essential
01:07oils in which really help calm the dogs. Isn't that right Sonny? And then Vince
01:13the vet also does thunder and fireworks drops which we put in some of the more
01:17stressful dogs or the ones that we know are really affected by it just to help
01:21soothe and calm them so we generally start this about two weeks before the
01:25fireworks and we found these three supplements really help just to help
01:29calm them. With the sprays you just sort of spray them in their kennels on the
01:33bedding before you're leaving before the fireworks are due to start and this you
01:38just do drops in their food morning and night and it depends on the weight of
01:41the dog for what size you give. What advice would you give for pet owners during this season?
01:47Obviously it really does depend on your animal but you want to make a safe space
01:51that they feel comfortable in so whatever room in the house they're most
01:55happy you want to make them feel secure so have things that smell like them
01:59their favourite toys. Again calming supplements like these can really help
02:03them and playing music like the Feedback on Classic FM can be great because it's
02:10calming and it blocks out the noise of the fireworks and again just sitting
02:15with them. Natural chew is also a great thing that's something we use here so
02:19like pigs ears, hoofs those sorts of things are great because it distracts
02:23the dog and it gives them something to chew on so it really does relieve some
02:26of the stress that can come from the noise of fireworks. Fireworks are a really
02:30stressful season for dogs in rescue so we are so grateful for all our
02:35volunteers that come in and help us and if anyone is ever interested in coming
02:39and volunteering or just sitting with some of our stressful dogs we are always
02:43looking for people so we're Hollyhedge Animal Sanctuary and we're based just
02:46outside Bristol. Thank you.
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