Many people think fireworks affect only nervous dogs, but nothing could be further from the truth. The noise, whether big bangs or whizzing rockets, reaches highly sensitive ears and noses many kilometres away, scaring the heck out of many species.
Pet owners seldom associate the demise of their beloved canary or pet gerbil with fireworks. At this time of year cats often disappear and wild animals, big and small, are found dead in the fields or on main roads: all the victims of panic and shock.
Caged pets, like rabbits in hutches, wild birds, horses and farm animals, all suffer the onslaught of this annual Festival of Frights. No species is safe because, once frightened by fireworks, the indelible fear is compounded and grows worse every year.
Ignorance is no longer an excuse for the deaths of thousands over the fireworks season.
Question:
I’m sick and tired of dog owners criticising our centuries-old custom of celebrating with fireworks. Why can’t people be more responsible and keep their animals indoors for two nights of the year and stop blaming us for their neglect?
Going Crackers, Wyebank
Answer:
If only it were that simple. Most animal lovers do stay at home with their animals, where they dose them with tranquillisers, turn up the TV and try to console their terrified pets. But unless you’ve seen a traumatised animal yourself, you won’t understand the terrible fear which drives them to impale themselves on burglar bars or run blindly on to main roads and into the jaws of death. Sadly, once the damage is done it’s irreversible.
And don’t fool yourself. Crackers can be heard going off at all hours throughout November, December and sometimes even October and January. Wake up and smell the gun powder!
Question:
I’m a first time dog owner and want to know how to tell if my dog is stressed by fireworks.
Jill Lawrence, Link Hills
Answer:
You’ll know! However, here are some classic symptoms: yawning; licking lips; shaking and shivering; pacing; hiding; glazed eyes; will not respond to you; scratching; vomiting; frothing at the mouth; barking wildly; aggression; drooling; incessant licking and any other dramatic behaviour change.
Turn up the TV and be very “gung ho”, as he will take his cue from you. Allow your dog to hide away and ride out the “storm” in his self-appointed place of safety. Try to entice him into a game with his favourite toy. Feed him treats and pretend nothing is amiss.
**Glynne Anderson, The Pet Shrink, is a regular contributor to The Crest magazine.
Contacts: E-mail Glynne at k9acad@iafrica.com. Call 031 765 1958. On the web
1 Comment
To: going crackers in Wyebank: “centuries old tradition”. if this Crackers person knows about his tradition, he would be educated enough to know Diwali is the tradition of “LIGHTS” – does that clear it for you crackers…