Bonfire night: Milton Keynes pet owners urged to keep animals safe over fireworks season
RSPCA Milton Keynes have shared some simple tips to help keep your pet safe, calm and cared for over the stressful fireworks period.
Fireworks may be fun to some, but the loud bangs and bright flashes can be terrifying for pets and wildlife.
This Bonfire Night, RSPCA Milton Keynes & N. Bucks Branch have created some tips to help pets feel safer during this stressful period.
A spokesperson from RSPCA Milton Keynes & N. Bucks Branch said: “Let’s help our furry friends feel safe by keeping them indoors, creating a cosy hiding place and making sure they have somewhere quiet to retreat to.
“Don’t forget our cats, dogs and small animals – they all need a little extra care during fireworks season.”
Six pet safety tips over Bonfire Night:
- Bring pets indoors well before dark
- Close windows, curtains and doors to muffle the noise
- Play calming music or white noise to mask bangs
- Create a quiet den or safe space they can retreat to
- Avoid leaving them alone if possible
- Never take pets to fireworks displays
The RSPCA have shared strong concerns around the impact of fireworks on animals, explaining that they can lead to heightened stress, long-term hearing damage, injuries and even worse.
The national RSPCA website says: “For animals, fireworks can scare them, sometimes literally, to death. Every year, thousands of animals suffer due to the noise levels and startling flashes of fireworks, which can lead to stress, injury and death.”
The animal charity is campaigning for stronger controls on fireworks, to reduce the noise level and limit the scale of consumer sales.
They are also calling for designated ‘firework free zones’ in areas where fireworks are likely to have a greater impact on animals, the environment and vulnerable people.
It is asking the government to review regulations around alternatives such as drone displays, which could also lead to economic benefits.
Many countries including Ireland, The Netherlands, Australia and Chile have already enforced nationwide or near-nationwide consumer bans on fireworks.
You can find out more about the campaign for tighter controls on fireworks and how they can affect animals and wildlife at the RSPCA.