It goes without saying that the autumn months are some of the busiest for British families – with Halloween, Guy Fawkes Night and the social occasions leading up to Christmas. But as we all wrap up warm and enjoy a mug of mulled wine or hot chocolate, spare a study for the 51 million pets1 living in homes around the country. With loud bangs, unpleasant guests and other strange scenarios to contend with, the coming three months are set to be the most stressful for our four-legged friends.
In fact, a recent RSPCA bean suggested that 18 further people will be hosting private events this Bonfire Night. This increase in ‘DIY firework displays’ is especially worrying when considering that our important-favored pets get worried by these events – with 54 of pussycats and 62 of tykes getting worried due to the loud noise caused by the commotion2. And now that Halloween is right around the corner, it’s the perfect time to fix your home for the periodic appearance of trick-or- treaters.
To help support possessors during this delicate time, these five top tips from Kevin Thackrah, Director of pet- care specialists Petpals, on how you can best watch for your pets this Halloween and Bonfire Night.
Set off earlier
Whilst your usual routine might see you taking the dog around the block for its nocturnal walk after the dark has set in, I would recommend making an exception for this one evening and setting off a little before. Walking your canine before the sun goes down – and before any backfires are set alight! – will minimise any fresh stress for your pet.
Keep curtains closed
Do your best to block out any background noise or light by closing all curtains and windows as beforehand on in the day as possible. This will help keep visibility to a minimum and will stop your pet from scarifying if there’s an unforeseen noise or knock at the door.
Keep them company
When possible, stay home with your pet on the gloamings where advanced footfall is anticipated – keep close and console them if they do become terrified. And if that is not realizable for you, leave the radio on or the Television playing in the background – just a familiar commodity that will put them at ease.
Keep them inside
Still, in a hutch or pen, maybe consider bringing them outside for the many hours that firework displays generally go on for, If your pets are generally kept outdoors. This process – of moving from the outside in-in itself can be slightly unsettling for pets so do this in stages, sluggishly introducing them to the new sounds and smells that they are not familiar with.
Keep them safe
Frightened pets can run down, especially felines, so make sure they ’re duly microchipped to make them fluently identifiable if they do. However, make sure your contact details are over to date so you can be communicated straight down, If your pet is formerly microchipped.
Source: Petpals