Again.... As we all know, fireworks and pets don't mix, so i Thought i would post this in the hope it helps a little


Lock your doors and close all your windows. Countless pets are stolen every year during the firework displays if they are left outside or in an unlocked house. Also, it will help dampen the noise.

Put your pet in one, safe, comfortable, closed room, even if your pet is caged. It will keep it from running about the house and injuring itself, wrecking furniture or being scared. Make sure the room has a cosy place for your pet to sit, such as a blanket in a corner, and it is warm. If your pet is a horse or other farm animal, make sure it has clean bedding and is inside the stable or barn.

Keep some lights on. Keeping a light on will calm your pet and make him feel more secure, rather than being scared in a dark room.

Make them feel cosy and protected. If you have a dog, cat, etc., a nice soft bed will help. Many dogs and cats will feel more comforted if you place the bed under a table or behind a chair, in a corner, etc. And let them hide if they want to; it's their way of coping.

Dampen the noise. Close the curtains in the room and, if your animal is a caged one, cover up the cage in a thick blanket, but make sure it is breathable so your animal doesn't suffocate. These steps will also help to stop the flashes of light affecting your pet. You might also try drowning out the noise with stereo music or the TV, sounds that are more familiar for your pet; just make sure not to play these noises ridiculously loud.

Provide water and food. Many pets will be very frantic and uneasy. If they have water it will help calm them, and food at its regular portion will make the pet feel like it is a normal day.

Add some soothing sound. If your pet is used to music, turn some on at normal volume. Also, the sound of rainwater is very soothing to pets.
Give your animal something to distract it. This could be a new or interesting toy, a chew bone, etc.

Use lavender. This is optional, but you can use lavender scented items as it may calm your pet. You can use a spray or gently bruise the leaves and flowers of some fresh plants. Just make sure that it is out of reach of your pet. Using heated scent oils or incense is not recommended as a frantic pet can knock them over and start a fire or injure themselves.

Stay with your pet. Comfort it and talk to it. If this is not possible, because you are out or busy (you may be at the firework display), don't worry - the previous steps should comfort your pet enough. If it wants to hide away, let it - don't fuss over them too much.

Keep comforting your pet after the fireworks. Make sure to calm it down and remove the protection (blankets etc.) as long as you are sure that the loud fireworks are over.

Keep your ID and other tags up to date. If your pet does go running off, it is much easier to be able to identify its ownership with these features.

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DON'T SWEAT THE PETTY THINGS AND DON'T PET THE SWEATY THINGS!

Red Dog Pics @ http://www.flickr.com/photos/24819879@N07/

Good post 3 RD
Unfortunately the lunacy started here last night
Far too early for fireworks imo!

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Same here, i've just seen in our local Tesco buy one get one free on fireworks, that annoyed me for a start 2 of my dogs Sooty & Tessa were in a right state last night when the bangs started or should i say explosionns, they were trembling for hours afterwards, going to the vets to get something to calm their nerves.
I dread this time of year as it goes on for weeks!

Excellent post

As my pups proved to me last nite they are not scared of fireworks but the older ones were

They dont get a late walk around firework nite so no chance of them getting more scared and running off

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R.I.P Kaydee my beautiful baby girl. 15.04.2004 - 01.05.2011

great post red, but luckier bracken showed me again last night he doesnt seem to be bothered by them at all, was even outside when some were going off. But i do feel for the owners who have pets that are scared so this is great advice, but why do people have to set fireworks off soo early.

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Hello

where i used to live the idiotic kids well can you call people in there 20's kids ? set of fireworks up the paths and in random places so im glad that we have moved to the countryside and there will not be any of that going on the nearest fireworks display to me is 20 mins down the road so our animals will be safe .unless people decide to do them in there gardens

our dog is ok with them hes not bothered as hes so used to hearing them from our old house but it's our kitten first time hearing them so unless we do hear any round here then i think my poor lil girly will have a heart attack.

be careful with the calming stuff you can get, apparently it only relaxes the muscles, not the mind, so the dog's still stressed out, but it cant move, which stresses it out even more

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I dont think they should be sold, if people want to see fireworks then go to an orginised desplay. Too many children and animals get hurt from them, they are dangerous.

I totally agree

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R.I.P Kaydee my beautiful baby girl. 15.04.2004 - 01.05.2011

they can be good fun, but unfortunately a lot of people are idiots i remember reading somewhere once that someone tied a cat (might have been a dog) to a rocket and lit it, some people should be shot

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