Pet safety on Bonfire Night

Loud bangs from fireworks can distress dogs and other animals, so follow these few simple steps to keep your pets happy over the bonfire season.

Dogs

• Exercise your dog during the day.
• Never walk your dog while fireworks are being let off.
• Keep your dog indoors, close the windows and curtains and put the TV or music on to reduce firework noise.  Loud music may disturb your neighbours so let them know what you are planning to do.
• Let your dog hide if it wants to take refuge under furniture or in a corner.  Do not try to tempt it out as this could cause more stress.
• Make sure your dog is wearing a collar and tag and is microchipped to ensure it can be returned to you if it escapes and becomes lost.

Cats

• Make sure your cat is indoors before it goes dark.
• Close the windows and curtains and put the TV or music on to reduce firework noise.  Loud music may disturb your neighbours so let them know what you are planning to do.
• Let your cat hide if it wants to take refuge under furniture or in a corner.  Do not try to tempt it out as this could cause more stress.
• Make sure your cat is microchipped to ensure it can be returned to you if it escapes and becomes lost.

Small animals

Pets living outside such as rabbits and guinea pigs shouldn't be forgotten. Bring your small animals indoors or place them in an outhouse or garden shed to give them extra protection.

Horses

Horses can bolt from firework noise and become injured. Make sure your horses, ponies and donkeys are stabled while fireworks are being let off and close the stable door.

Bonfires

Animals such as hedgehogs can be killed by crawling into bonfires to sleep. Build your bonfire as late as possible to reduce this risk and disturb the foundations of your bonfire to give wildlife a chance to escape before it is lit.

And... remember to clear up after your fireworks party as litter is hazardous to domestic and wild animals.

Public displays

If a fireworks display is taking place in your neighbourhood and you are concerned about your pet's welfare, contact the organiser and ask them to use low noise fireworks.

Private displays

If you are holding your own display, let your neighbours know you will be using fireworks so they have time to minimise the distress to their animals and buy low-noise fireworks, available in most good firework outlets. Fireworks registered under category two of the British Standards are all low noise.