Have a safe New Years Eve

New Years Eve Pet Safety Tips

Whether staying at home to watch the ball drop or hosting a quiet or raucous party for friends, be sure you take some time to consider these pet safety tips.

I don’t know about your neighborhood but in my midtown Tucson neighborhood there are always some nut jobs setting off firecrackers or shooting off guns. And they don’t always wait until midnight either.

Loud noises scare most pets and some people. Take some precautions:

–Do not leave your pets outside on New Years Eve. If they get scared, they can jump the fence or wall or hurt themselves just trying to escape. If people are shooting off guns — bullets that go up, must come down.

–Loud noises scare pets causing them to escape and run as fast as they can, as far as they can. If your pet does not have a microchip, get one before Dec. 31.

–If you go outside at midnight to make a wish, to scream, to burn your fears, (whatever) whether on the street or in your yard — keep the pets inside.

–Be sure to keep a well-fitting collar and ID on your pet with a good phone number

–If you have recently adopted a pet after July 4th, you don’t know their tolerance, so err on the side of caution vs. abandon.

–If planning a party at home, keep your pet in a crate or closed room with a dog bed and toy. Doors open. Doors close. People aren’t paying attention. Pets escape.

–Also alcoholic beverages and diet sodas and not-dog-friendly food (raisins & grapes, garlic, onions, foods made with xylitol, rich cheeses & dips), fatty foods, and cooked bones) can either make your pets very sick or kill them. Who needs a trip to the emergency vet on New Years Eve?

–Turn on a TV or radio to provide soothing sounds that will distract your pet from outside noises (or blast some good old rock & roll)

–Spray pet-friendly aromatherapy to calm your dog’s nerves (yours too)

–A thunder shirt may help for anxiety (No affiliation but helped my hound who was afraid of the noise that the central heater made.)

–Animals that are extremely sensitive to noise may benefit from the use of veterinarian prescribed tranquilizers (I give my dogs Calms Forte which is holistic and can be purchased at Sprouts Market. Last year I gave them each a pill at 7:30 p.m. By 8 p.m. they were zonked out and slept soundly until 5:30 a.m. the next day. I have taken it myself for insomnia. Disclaimer: This is not medical advice.)

Have a safe and sane New Years Eve wherever you are…

(Photo: Courtesy HSSA – Chester (740521) is an adoptable 4-year old Pit Bull mix who spends his time in staff offices. )

Let's have a ball!

New Years Eve brings out the nut cases with all the fireworks and bullets bursting in air. New Years Eve and July 4th are my least favorite holidays because my dogs don’t get what all this noise is about and frankly neither do I.

Here are some tips to keep your pets safe on December 31:
(courtesy of Humane Society Southern Arizona)

As our community welcomes the arrival of 2012, our pets could be at risk. January 2 is one of the busiest days of the year for staff at the Humane Society of Southern Arizona accepting stray pets. Loud noises, such as celebratory gunfire and fireworks on New
Year’s Eve, can frighten pets and spur them to run away from home. These simple tips can go a long way to keeping your pet out of peril during the holiday:

– Keep all pets indoors and make sure they are equipped with a well-fitting collar and up-to-date ID tag.
– Do not tie out a pet in the yard to keep it from escaping. Not only is it illegal in Pima County; your pet can injure itself while trying to escape or fall victim to desert predators. (KZ: And stray bullets. What gets shot up must come down.)
– Implanting a microchip will provide a permanent way to reunite you with your pet should he or she become lost. The simple procedure is quick and easy, and is available at HSSA for just $20. No appointment is necessary.
– Keep your pet in a separate room during the evening. Provide water, toys, a comfortable bed and litter for cats. Leave a television or radio on to block out frightening noises. Not only will this keep your pet safely in the house, but will also help reduce his or her stress throughout the evening.

If your pet becomes lost, immediately call HSSA’s Lost and Found Department at 327-6088, ext. 111, and Pima Animal Care Center at 243-5900 to file a lost report and obtain information on conducting an effective search. Also be sure to visit each shelter at least every other day to look for your pet in person, and check the Found Pets website

If you’re having a party, beware of guests coming and going and indiscriminately opening up the doors. Your pet could slip out unnoticed. Your pets should be locked into a separate room (see above).