Happy New Year! Well… almost. There’s still time to make this New Year’s Eve a safe and happy one for your pets. We just received this great press release from the LA Animal Services, and thought it was the perfect time to share it here on our blog, as it applies for pets everywhere, not just in Los Angeles. The press release is titled “Celebratory Noisemakers are No Fun For Pets” – and neither are fireworks which also abound this time of year. So read on for their pet safety tips for New Years Eve.
Make this New Years Eve fun and SAFE for you and your pets! Big gatherings, loud noises, and startling fireworks are some of the things we love about the Holidays – but they can be very frightening for our pets. With a little planning and precaution, you can ensure that this New Years celebration is enjoyable for everyone.
Pet Safety Tips for New Years Eve:
1. UPDATE IDENTIFICATION
The biggest risk of all this New Years Eve is that pets will get loose and become lost. Even if a pet is secured inside, the sound of noisemakers, gunfire, and fireworks can cause them to enter an extreme panic mode – sometimes even breaking through glass windows. Make sure your pets are licensed, microchipped and wearing identification tags.
Dogs should be wearing a current license. You may qualify to renew your LA City dog license on line: http://www.laanimalservices.org/serv_animallicense.htm (Other cities check with your local animal control.)
Make sure the microchip company has your current address and phone numbers.
To learn more about microchipping, ask your veterinarian.
Help us help your best friends get home if they get lost by keeping their license up to date and by always updating your address with the microchip company if you move.
2. KEEP PETS INDOORS
Keep your pets in a safe, enclosed room, preferably one without windows. If you’re having guests over, consider keeping pets in a room that’s off-limits to guests with plenty of water and food.
3. CREATE A CALMING ENVIRONMENT
Surround pets with their favorite toys and other familiar objects. Sometimes the smell of an article of clothing from your laundry can help comfort them. Play soothing music and keep the room as quiet as possible by closing doors, windows, and blinds.
4. KEEP AWAY FROM NOISEMAKERS
Even if your pet doesn’t seem obviously upset by noisemakers and fireworks, they can still cause harm to pets. Avoid potential burns, injuries, or possible ingestion by keeping all pets out of the vicinity of celebratory noisemakers and fireworks.