Kate Foran, Tennant & District Times
Next Friday is the annual Territory Day celebrations, a rare day on which Territorians can indulge their love of fireworks, as residents are still allowed to purchase fireworks to set off themselves.
It is a heap of fun and much loved by many.
There is a down side, however.
For many pets and their owners, it is a difficult day and night (sometimes stretching on through the following week/s) during which pets are terrified by all the chaos of the sudden loud bangs and flashing lights.
Every year there are reports of pets escaping their yards in sheer terror, trying to avoid the crackers but finding more at every corner and ending up lost.
There are a few things owners can do, to ensure their pets are as safe and comfortable as possible during the Territory Day shenanigans.
If you will be home with your pets, keep them inside, close-by and comforted.
They will feel safest if all windows and curtains are closed, to block out the flashing lights and to dull the sounds.
If you will be out, make them an extra soft, snuggly bed inside a small, dark room with minimal windows. A bathroom or laundry is ideal.
Provide a constant noise like TV or radio to help to muffle the sudden loud bangs from the fireworks.
The safest way to have any escaping pets returned to you is to check that they are microchipped BEFORE the fireworks.
Pop in to the vet clinic with your pet.
It only takes a moment to run the scanner over them, to let you know if they’ve already been done.
Contact us if you need any medication to help keep your beloved pets calm during the craziness of Cracker Night.
This article appeared in Tennant & District Times, 24 June 2022.
