Keep your dog or cat indoors when fireworks are likely to be set off.
Put your dog or cat in a safe place inside the house – e.g. in a spare room or laundry room. Provide favorite toys, blankets etc. to comfort the pet.
Close all doors, windows and curtains and switch on music or the television to drown out the noise. Make sure that there are no spaces through which your pet can squeeze and get out of your house.
Resist the temptation to comfort your pet too much, as this may reinforce its impression that fireworks are something to be afraid of. Do not be angry with your pet if it cries, hides, paces around, messes or destroys things. That will only add to its distress.
If pets must stay outside, make sure that they are in a very secure area – preferably a kennel.
This is one time that they should be locked in the kennel for their own safety. If they are left loose, fear may give animals an adrenalin rush sufficient to let them jump a gate or fence that they could not clear normally. In trying to escape they may impale themselves on fences and injure or even kill themselves.
DO NOT CHAIN YOUR PET. Animals can strangle themselves on the chain. If the chain breaks under pressure the animal may escape from the yard and get lost.
If you must go out, consider getting someone to house-sit and keep an eye on your pets for the night. If you are going away over the holidays, or if you consider that you cannot keep your pets safe and secure, book them into kennels for a few days. However, you must decide on this and make your booking early in order to secure space for them.
Ensure that your pets have ID tags on their collars. Also, take pictures of your pets with a digital camera or cellphone and have them handy incase the pets go missing.
If your pets go missing – call the AWN help line (627-3449 – voicemail only) and the TTSPCA (622-1367). You should also call veterinary clinics in your area, in case your animals are found and boarded by their finders.
Caged pets – Birds, rabbits, etc.
If these pets live in cages small enough to be moved, bring them inside when fireworks are expected. Keep them in a dark, quiet room.
Cover cages with cloth but ensure that there is enough ventilation for the animals.
Outdoor cages should be covered in the same way.