FESTIVE SEASON NO PARTY FOR PETS

Animal Aid is asking pet owners to stop and think before going out to enjoy their New Year's festivities.

Will your pets be safe and secure when you get home?

Fireworks and the seasonal thunderstorms that are forecast this week can send pets into a state of panic. Even pets that would normally be easily contained may go to great lengths to seek safety and find a way to escape.

With fireworks displays expected to occur regularly from now until Australia Day, both legal and illegal, many pets are expected to be traumatized and may end up on the streets.

Last year we saw 47 dogs come in over the late evening of the 31^st and New Years day, about average when compared with previous years. It is a slightly different scenario for cats; they tend to take a bit longer to be found.

Whenever we have a sudden surge in intake like this, the ultimate result is that there will always be a percentage that doesn't get reclaimed, historically this has been between 5 and 10%. If your pet is micro-chipped and registered with current contact details then they have an excellent chance of being reunited with their owners. It is the ones without identification that we struggle to locate their owners.

If your pet does escape on New Years Eve and end up in the pound, you should consider yourself very lucky. You might not think so at the time, but worse things can happen than finding the safety of the local pound. The alternative can be very tragic indeed, if they become the victim of the accident you may end up finding them at a vet clinic.

We have seen some unfortunate cases in previous years; a wide range of injuries inflicted by attempting to escape from what some pets perceive is pending doom, from deep gashes or even worse, being hit by a car.

There are ways to protect your pets; disaster can be avoided if you take some simple steps.

- If you cannot be home with your pets, it is ideal to have them stay with someone who is staying home or have them boarded.
- If not, please ensure that your pets are inside your house in a room with few windows, such as a laundry.
- Give them food, water and bedding so that they are comfortable.
- Cats appreciate a small hidey hole to help them feel secure.
- Make sure they are wearing adequate identification; a microchip is the safest way to ensure that your pet can be returned to you.
- If you know that your pet is fearful of fireworks or thunder, there are medications that can help keep them calm, consult your vet for advice prior to the event.

If you follow these simple steps then you can go out and enjoy your outing without having to worry about your pets' safety. If you need any more information about how to keep you pets safe please feel free to call Animal Aid on 9739 0300 or visit www.animalaid.org.au

So from everyone at Animal Aid, thank you so much for all of your support this year. We look forward to the year ahead we wish you all the best for the New Year.