Halloween horror for animals!

As all of you are aware, Halloween is upon us with bonfire night following at the beginning of next week.
This may be the cause of much excitement for everyone what with all the food, sweets, fireworks and costume parties but this year please make sure you take a step back and think about how stressful and horrible this all is for our furry friends. As much as we all love the beautiful firework displays, a dogs hearing is twice as sensitive than a humans, and a cats three times more sensitive!

Photo Credit: Orsi on weheartit

Every year animals are terrorized by the loud bangs and bright flashes of fireworks and hundreds of little critters, such as hedgehogs, are killed in bonfires due to the carelessness of people. 

Earlier this year I went to the annual firework championships down on Plymouth Hoe and, in the middle of the huge crowds of people, was a terrified little Jack Russell barking madly at each bang. The owners, who clearly didn't have a clue (or worse, didn't care) just tried hushing the poor dog but to no avail. It was clear to me and everyone around that this dog was scared, but the owners did not leave until the very end. 

So this is my own personal warning to all you pet owners out there! If your dog, cat, rabbit or any other pet is scared or anxious of fireworks please do NOT take them out whilst they are happening. 

Here are some ways in which you can help your pet during this time of year: 

• Ensure you take your dog for a nice long walk during daylight hours before the fireworks begin
• Close windows, curtains and doors to try and muffle the loud bangs and hide the bright flashes
• Try turning up the tv/radio to help disguise the noise
• Make sure your pet has a nice comfortable place to escape to (give them blankets and toys to comfort them)
• Attempt to soothe your animal by stroking them and staying close by
• Make sure your pets are micro-chipped (this can be done at your vets for as little as £15) just in case they attempt to escape.

There are also some calming treatments that may help your pets, such as DAP (dog appeasing pheromones), diffusers, collars and tablets which should all be available from your vet. 

As for the wildlife, please CHECK and CHECK AGAIN any bonfires that you have set up in your back gardens or on local fields/parks. These large piles of sticks, wood and leaves are the perfect little home for sheltering hedgehogs and if any of these little creatures have set up house then I'm sure you do not want to be responsible for killing them. 

Photo Credit: Ben Hall