Dogs and Halloween: Sound Advice for Keeping your Pets Safe and Calm during Fireworks

by Pilar Bueno

It is nearly that time of the year when the night skies filled with colourful displays, loud bangs and explosions as we get ready to celebrate events such as Diwali, Halloween, Bonfire Night, and of course Christmas and New Year’s Eve.

We have been enjoying fireworks for centuries. Originally believed to have been invented by the Chinese in the 11th century, the then small firecrackers ("fire pills", as they were referred to) were apparently used to scare off evil spirits. Nowadays, the popularity and affordability of fireworks have increased so exponentially that they have become a sign to mark special events all around the world.

As much as we humans may enjoy and delight with the beautiful light displays that pepper our skies, there is no doubt that our faithful pets and wildlife have a different opinion of this cacophony of sound and flashing lights.

Animals simply don't share our fondness for these explosives and react in the only way they know when confronted with a perceived harmful attack or threat to their survival: fight-or-flight. The stress generated as a result of this event can cause not just psychological but physical damage to domesticated animals and wildlife as they try to flee from danger. 

Thousand of panicked birds roosting in large communal flocks during the winter months take to the skies at night crashing into trees, power lines, houses and each other. And the lucky ones that manage to survive the stampede, may end up being poisoned by the pyrotechnics' toxic fumes.

Closer to home, our dogs (and cats), struggle to cope with the perceived attacks to their safe haven and respond either by "attack barking", trying to run away or cowering in a pitiful shacking mess. That is no surprise as dog hearing is far more sensitive than humans, as they are able to hear sound four times farther away than we can and up to three times higher frequency too. Your cat's hearing is even better!
Having said all of the above, some lucky pooches are only concerned that their nap time is being interrupted and couldn't care less about the light show.

Strategies for Coping With the Fireworks Season

• Exercise your dogs before dusk before most of the fireworks commence. If you can, take them on an extra-long and energetic walk with plenty of stimulation so that they are tired and more relaxed.
• Ensure all your pets are indoors. Comfort them to make them feel safe and secure.
• Build a den where they can take refuge. If you have one, cover your dog’s crate or place a blanket over a small table where they can hide. Cats, on the other hand, feel safe up high or in cosy spaces like a cardboard box. Place a comfy bed for them with blankets to burrow in and make sure that they always have access to this safe haven.
• Don’t leave them on their own. Your pet will definitely feel safer if you are around. If you must go out, make sure that someone they know stays with them.
• Play with them and keep them entertained and distracted. The Facebook Group Beyond The Bowl - Canine Enrichment share some great ideas
• Shut windows, doors (and cat flaps) and draw curtains to minimise the noise/light disturbance. Put the lights on in some rooms and leave others in darkness so that your pet can choose where it feels safest.
• Play calming music or turn the tv sound to loud to muffle the outside noise but not too loud that will scare your dog.
• Put your dogs on a lead if they need to go out to the toilet, even if it is in your garden,  in case they hear a firework and bolt.
• Thundershirt: This is a very popular all-natural, drug-free solution to dealing with your pet’s anxiety and fear of loud noises. The shirt applies gentle constant pressure on specific pressure points that create a sensation similar to swaddling a baby. It is available for dogs and cats, starting at around £30 and available in different sizes and designs.
• Put on a snug-fitting t-shirt on your dog. A more affordable version of the Thundershirt that will work along the same lines.
• Be prepared in the event that your pet escapes. Ensure that they are wearing a tag with your contact details and/or that they are microchipped so that you can be promptly reunited with them. 
• Natural Remedies:  CBD (Cannabidiol) Oil, a non-psychoactive substance obtained from hemp, is well known for its therapeutic properties and it has recently gained more popularity for use with our pets for treating a variety of ailments such as seizures, lessening pain and calming anxiety, to name a few. Make sure you purchase from a reputable company. We personally use Chakanna CBD oil who has a special range for Pets.

Help For Cases of Fireworks Phobia or Conditioning

Sound Therapy 4 Pets is a wonderful and FREE sound-based treatment programme to help your dog deal with distressing noises. You can download the programme and the full set of instructions from the Dog Trust Website

Clinical Animal Behaviourists. For those cases that need special attention. Details where you can find suitably qualified personnel can be found at the RSPCA.

Be Safe - Be Thoughtful - Be Kind

Help Make Fireworks Less Frightening to Animals

No sound Fireworks 

If you are a big pyrotechnics enthusiast, why not buy “No Sound Fireworks”? You get the thrill of deploying the firework and enjoy the colourfull light show without the loud bangs.

Klasek is the European pyrotechnics company that manufactures them. You will find their UK stocklist here. Prices start around £30 for 25 shots.

Join the RSPCA Fireworks campaign to help change regulations to protect animal welfare.
The campaign does NOT call for a total ban on fireworks but aims to minimise distress to animals by, for instance, restricting the sale of fireworks for private use with a maximum noise level of 90 decibels. To put this into context, currently, the allowed level of 120 decibels is the equivalent of a jet aircraft taking off! 

Please sign the Change.org petition and don’t forget to share it on social media.

Halloween Can Be Fun For Dogs Too!

Dressing Up:

There are some hilarious and cute costumes available for your pets. Obviously, don't force them to wear one if that is going to distress them but otherwise let them enjoy the fun. 

Tasty and Nutritious Treats

With all that pumpkin around, why not treat your dog to some delicious and nutritious food. Read our previous blog post about the benefits of cooked Pumpkin for dogs. Also, watch out for our next HALLOWEEN SPECIAL for a tasty selection of Pumpkin Treat Recipes for Dogs. If you don't want to miss it, make sure you go to the top of the article and on the right-hand side of the page you will see the option to "Subscribe".

Do NOT feed RAW Pumpkin flesh or seeds, only cooked or canned

From all of us here at Dogs at Home House Sitting, we wish you a very Spooky and Fun Halloween. 
Be safe and be responsible always remembering to clean up all firework residue such as bits of paper, spent casings, used matches and ash. The debris can be toxic and harmful to animals that may ingest them. 

Thanks

Pilar and John

If you've found our blog to be useful please don't forget to go to the top of the article and on the right-hand side of the page, you have an option to....

Canberra set to recognise animals as 'sentient beings' that are able to feel and perceive in Australian first

By Elise Scott, Tahlia Roy and Niki Burnside

Pet owners who keep their dogs locked up and do not allow them to exercise for longer than one day could face a fine of up to $4,000 under sweeping changes that enshrine animal feelings into ACT law.

Key points:

• New laws include harsher fines for mistreatment
• Fines will apply for injuring an animal and not reporting it — including hitting a kangaroo
• Under the new laws people can legally break into cars to protect animals

Under the bill, confinement is judged on the dog's size, age and physical condition.

And anyone found confining a dog for longer than 24 hours would have to provide two hours of exercise or pay the fine.

But provisions do exist within the legislation for reasonable restraints, such as chicken coops, bird cages and cat containment areas.

Under the proposed laws the ACT would become the first jurisdiction in the country to recognise animals as "sentient beings" — the idea that animals are able to feel and perceive the world.

The concept recognises that "animals have intrinsic value and deserve to be treated with compassion" and "people have a duty to care for the physical and mental welfare of animals".

"The science tells us that animals are sentient," ACT City Services Minister Chris Steel said.

"I know with my dog he gets very excited when we're about to go on a run.

"I think most dog owners, most cat owners know their animals do feel emotion."

The animal welfare amendments, to be introduced into the ACT Legislative Assembly this week, would establish a suite of additional offences, including hitting or kicking an animal, abandonment, and confinement in a car that is likely to cause the animal injury, stress or death.

A person would be allowed to legally break into a car to protect an animal from serious injury or death if they acted honestly and there were no other reasonable options like calling the police.

Having an animal in a moving vehicle without proper restraint would also be punishable by up to one year in prison or a $16,000 fine or both.

New protections for guide dogs, assistance animals

The new laws would also create specific offences for failing to provide appropriate food, shelter, water, hygienic living, grooming and medical treatment to an animal.

For example, an owner could be prosecuted if their pet suffered an eye infection due to hair growing into its eyes, was impaired due to unclipped nails or had irritated skin due to fleas.

The bill also doubles penalties for cruelty to an animal to up to two years' imprisonment or a $32,000 fine or both and increases punishments for aggravated cruelty to three years behind bars or a fine of $48,000 or both.

Fines would also apply for injuring animals and not reporting it — such as a car hitting an animal, including kangaroos.

What to do when you see a dog in a hot car

Is breaking into a car the best option to rescue a dog on a hot day?

For the first time in the ACT, guide dogs and other assistance animals would also need to be accredited and listed on a register.

It would become an offence to prevent a person with an assistance animal entering a public place, remove an assistance animal or impose a charge for the animal — with a fine of up to $8,000 for an individual or $40,500 for a business.

And anyone caught pretending that an animal was an assistance animal would face a fine of up to $3,200.

Animal sentience could have broader implications

The ACT adheres to the national code of practice in culling animals, including in kangaroo culling, which is supported by the RSPCA.

Veterinarian Dr David Rizkalla, from the Gables Veterinary Group, said the recognition of sentience was a good place to start enforcing animal rights.

"It's more about protecting animals from people who can harm them, than giving animals better opportunities," he said.

But he said it was important to clearly define which animals were recognised as sentient.

"It could get in the way of the economy," he said.

"I think it has to be quite clear if you introduce that sort of thing to large animals, like cows.

"Farmers spend money on the animal if it gets them more money, it's a profit thing, it's not sentimental value, it's an economic value."

animal-welfare, animals, human-interest, law-crime-and-justice, states-and-territories, Canberra-2600, act

A DOG PARTY in the sun for Blue Cross charity fundraiser 2018

What a great turn out at the Blue Cross, Bromsgrove 2018 summer fete. The event was packed all day and I'd estimate easily a 1000 people passed through the gates, many attendees accompanied by excited, well behaved and happy dogs, which made the day for me. 

We saw loads of stalls ranging from Animal and Conservation charities such as The Wildlife Trust and other local dog and cat charities, lots of homemade food stall. Locally grown, organic veggies for sale (we filled a couple of bags). Face painting, and games and even a LIVE Dog Show. 

A special mention to AS ONE Vegan Lifestyle and their great food van. It was the last outside event for them after three years of trading. They are launching a new business venture, 'Greens Vegan Cafe and As One Lifestyle' shop in Stourport, click on the link above to find out more.

We'll have to wait and see the figures of how much was made for this important charity but I'm sure they'll break previous records. Everybody who contributed to this well-organised event deserves high praise.

A special congratulations go out to my friends, Samina Arif & Les who's tireless and constant fundraising work blows me away. They also produce the best Indian food. There were queues were around the stall all day and it appears they SOLD OUT of everything.....WOW fantastic 😋

All the food is handmade and Les was kept very busy cooking all the Samosas. It looked like he only just kept up with the demand, Samina was rushed off her feet serving.....hot work indeed. My veggie Curry was amazing, thanks Samina 😘

100% of the proceeds go to the Blue Cross Dog/Cat charity
Question is, how do they top this next year??

Pilar Bueno, you missed out baby but at least you can ask Mandy Bonehill how good your curry would have been. 

Don't worry I have a stash of samosas in the freezer awaiting your return from Spain. 

If you'd like to get involved in helping this important charity, you can contact them here

bluecross.org.uk/contact-us  

You can call on 0300 790 9903. The Supporter Care Team will be ready and willing to help. The phone lines are open Monday to Friday from 9.00am to 5.00pm.

#BlueCross #LoveOfDogs #DogsWorld #BlueCrossForPets

Dogs At Home - House Sitting

#InternationalDogDay

As many of you are aware Pilar and I, while in the UK over the last five years, have had the pleasure of looking after many clients houses and pampered pooches while they relax on vacation or fulfil business engagements. The length of the house sits have ranged from a single day to five full weeks; all are repeating clients.

We take our work very seriously. The health and happiness of the dogs we look after is our priority. We tailor exercise and diet accordingly to the wide range age and breeds we work with. We feel very honoured to have a very large and extended dog family up and down the country with wonderful clients.

When our clients have to leave the family home for whatever reason, they need to feel secure that the family dog is receiving the best of care. Diet, exercise and affection (that's the easy part for us) are essential to minimise the stress for the animal while being separated from their human family. The idea of putting the family dog into kennels is not an option for our clients, I'm very pleased to say. For most dogs, this is a very hostile, foreign and scary environment. They have no idea where the owners have disappeared to or even if they are returning. Dogs are emotional animals and a day or a fortnight in doggy prison, no matter how luxurious, can change a dog's personality forever. 

Happy dogs need to be in their own environment with all the familiar smells, toys, places to sleep, walking routes, diet and no competition from strange dogs. A familiar routine and family environment equals wagging tails. 

As well as loving care for the dogs, we will guarantee the best security for your home. Apart from the obvious dog walking and food shopping, we will spend the majority of our time in your home. The property will show no signs of being empty for extended periods of time and your cars will be safe on your drive.

Our new business, 'Dogs At Home - House Sitting' is being launched this month. Not only are we taking requests and bookings for standard dog/house sitting, we are also offering on the job nutritional plans for ailing and sick dogs of which we have vast amounts of experience. We are also offering a photographic portfolio and updates uploaded online here at the Dogs At Home blog 

For the first time, we are also offering our services outside of the UK. This is a service we have declined in the past because of other obligations. But now after too many requests, we are offering our services ANYWHERE around the globe. Our fees will remain the same as for our UK clients but travel expenses and other travel expenses will be charged.

Additionally, in the coming weeks and months, we will be looking for the 'right' people to come and join the team. All potential applicants will be required to go through the DBS police security check. We will then conduct in-house or online interviews.

If you have free time, are prepared to travel with your own transport, have a clean record, love dogs and have experience with canine care, this could be the perfect job for you, couples are preferred. 

Our services come fully insured and we can provide references from our established and happy clients, many at the top of their professions.

For more details or booking requests or just a chat please either give us a call (UK 07976 268332) or email us at DOGS AT HOME
John and Pilar