New Year’s Eve is a fun night for most of us humans, but for our pets it can be one of the most scariest times of the year. Fireworks, loud music, either owners being away or having lots of strange people in and out of the home can cause our furry companions to try and run away! In Fact, shelters see a greater number if lost dogs following the holidays.
Here are tips to have a safe and peaceful New Years Eve (at least with your dogs, and cats too).
1) Exercise pets during the day. I recommend an hour or 2 before the festivities begin! Dogs- take them on a long walk or a run, play fetch or tug. For cats, play with them for a half hour or more. If they are tired they are more likely to sleep through all the celebrations.
2) Keep dogs and cats INDOORS. Let them potty before all the activities begin. If you must let your dogs out to potty, put them on leash and make sure they have a collar that fits them well (use the 2 finger rule: Once the dog’s collar is fastened, you should be able to easily slide two fingers under the collar. When you slide the width of your two fingers between the collar and neck, the collar should feel snug, but not tight.) with an updated ID tag. It’s best to keep cats indoors. If you have an indoor/outdoor kitty, get them inside around 3-4ish… to get them inside before there should be any unusual noises.
3) Keep dogs and cats in a familiar, cozy area (like a bedroom for example) with food, water, toys and bedding. Try playing soothing music to drown out the noise of the fireworks. For dogs, if they feel safe and secure in their crate, this would be the safest option, make sure to give them some toys to entertain themselves. If you have both dogs and cats, you may want to put them in separate rooms, you know your pets best, use your best judgement.
4) Keep the alcohol and other treats up. New Years is the one time of year when a large number of pets get into alcohol. Alcohol ingestion in pets can lead to depression, unsteady walking, vomiting, and in severe cases, a serious drop in blood pressure and body temperature. PLEASE see the ASPCA website for IMPORTANT information about alcohol and other substances ingestion in animals: https://www.aspca.org/news/celebrating-safely-ringing-new-year-your-pets
Thank you and have a SAFE, but FUN New Years!!