New Year’s Eve Pet Safety Tips

The New Year may be a fun occasion for most, but for animals it can often be a rough night. Kingsmark Kennels would like to take a moment to help you and your pets bring in 2012 safely.

1. Animal Hearing
   • Most animals hearing are much more sensitive than the ones of humans. Their ears suffer a great deal from the noise made by fireworks, firecracker blasts or even champagne corks.
   • This may cause them to tremble, bark excessively, hide in different places or become destructive to your home or themselves.
2. Leaving pets at home
   • Try not to leave your pets at home alone on New Year’s Eve.
   • Panic Attacks May Occur
3. The best place to keep your pet if you have to leave
   • Leave your pets in the most soundproof room you have.
   • Close your windows and curtains
   • Give comfortable bedding
   • Play some relaxing music to soothe your pets and camouflage the noise
4. How to act around your pet
   • Sometimes comforting your pet, with good intentions can actually reinforce the fear and panic.
   • ACT NORMAL and stay calm
5. IN EXTREME CASES
   • In extreme cases drug therapy or holistic drug therapy may be the safest option for your pet. Always check with your veterinarian and behavior specialist before using any drugs.
6. CATS
   • Diffusers, Sprays or collars with Facial Pheromones are known to reassure them.
7. Early Festivities
   • Sometimes people set off fireworks before dark and continue through the 1st.
   • Keep your dog on a leash while going to the bathroom
   • Make sure your pet has ID TAGS with current information on them.
8. Guests
   • Make all your guests aware that there are pets in the house
   • This will hopefully prevent an animal bolting out the door
9. Alcohol
   • Make sure all alcoholic beverages are picked up after the celebration.
   • Consumption of alcohol and be highly dangerous and even deadly for animals.
10. Party Decorations
    • Balloons, Streamers, party hats or confetti can be dangerous and even deadly if ingested.
11. The Day After New Year’s Eve
• Watch what your dog eats outside closely. You don’t want him to eat the rest of the firecrackers.

With these tips, Kingsmark Kennels hopes you have a safe and happy New Year!