Be prepared for second night of fireworks

6 Nov 2013

Be prepared for second night of fireworks and Keep your pets safe

Last night’s wet weather would have postponed many people’s Guy Fawkes celebrations. With fine weather expected tonight its likely many people will have saved their fireworks for this evening therefore be prepared to keep your pets safe again this evening.

The chance of your pet going missing or being injured when there are fireworks being let off increases by 40% so follow Inspector Spot’s top tips for keeping your pets safe.

1. Ensure all pets are indoors by 6pm – even confident pets

2. If your pets are particularly nervous, consider starting them on Rescue Remedy or plug in a pheromone-based device such as Feliway 24 hours in advance. If your pet has previously had a bad experience during Guy Fawkes, consider asking your vet to prescribe a sedative.

3. If you have dogs, take them for a good run earlier in the day. This will help to tire them out

and hopefully put them to sleep.

4. Close all windows, curtains, cat flaps, interior, exterior doors and pop a cover over your

bird’s cage to block out as much light and sound as possible.

5. Try to stay at home with your pets, or if this is not possible leave a TV or radio on to help

muffle the sound of the fireworks. Keep your pets occupied with lots of toys and treats.

6. If your pet is frightened, their natural inclination will be to run and hide – potentially under a bed or in a small, enclosed area such as a cupboard. If this happens, do not attempt to lure them out. Just sit with them, pat them, and speak to them calmly until they feel confident enough to come out. A frightened pet may lash out at you in fear, so it’s best to let them sit in the space they’ve chosen for themselves.

7. DO NOT take your pets to a fireworks display under any circumstances. Displays are a great

event for humans, but NOT for pets.

8. Remember that fireworks may land on your property. Prevent your pets from eating something dangerous by checking for the remains of fireworks the following morning.

9. Make sure pets are wearing a collar and a tag and ideally have them micro chipped and registered with Inspector Spot on www.inspectorspot.co.nz.

10. A pet that is scared during Guy Fawkes may show signs of anxiety for days, weeks or

even several months afterwards. If your pet does not return to normal within a few days,

make an appointment with your vet to help them to calm down again.

Inspector Spot

Inspector Spot is the world’s first fully integrated lost pet service which harnesses social media platforms and uses the wonders of the web as well as a highly personalized, locally focused search effort to find missing pets.

Owners register their pets for a small annual fee and are asked to upload lots of relevant information about their pet including photos, microchip and council registration numbers, family and vet contact details.

In return those registered receive a welcome pack, birthday cards, and email reminders when flea treatments, worming tablets and annual checkups are due.

If a pet goes missing, Inspector Spot and his massive search team swing into action within minutes. Owners receive a personalised ‘lost’ poster and letterbox flyers, complete with the pet’s photo and contact details for distribution in their neighbourhood.

They also receive an e-guide with experts tips on where and how to look for their particular type of runaway pet. Inspector Spot sends out a geo-coded alert to local Facebook and Twitter friends, vets, rescue organisations, pet stores, breeders and other animal lovers in the area.

The Inspector Spot database is automatically searched every day to see if an animal matching the lost pet’s description has been listed in the “found” section.

www.inspectorspot.co.nz or www.facebook.com/inspectorspot

ends

© Scoop Media