CRASH , BANG, HOWL!

Bonfire Night may be loved by many of us humans, but you can never stress enough each year how scary it is for animals. The sound of a nearby firework going bang must be as surprising to our pets as if someone crept up on us with a bucket of cold water.

Imagine how we would jump up in surprise in shock. Imagine that happening thirty of forty times in one night! Awful. evening goes by relatively unnoticed. Dogs can be kept in and occupied with a bone or a few treats with the curtains closed and the telly on. Pets that live outside in a hutch, such as rabbits or guinea pigs, could be brought into the house or an outbuilding and settled into a large airy comfy box for a few hours, again with some distracting nibbles. Cats are harder, unless they are the type that comes in quite happily and you can provide a litter tray and encourage them to stay in.

A cosy lap or a ball of wool and a game may help. If you can get your cat to stay in, then you’d be well advised to do so. Again, close the curtains and perhaps pop the telly on. Pay particular attention to ‘roaming’ pets such as cats if there is a bonfire planned near you and if you are worried, ask the organisers or neighbour to make sure that the bonfire does not harbour any dozing pets before it is lit.

Horses and equines should be considered if their grazing is urban or near somewhere with a display planned. (Though it’s unlikely any responsible organiser would plan a big event near grazing or not clear it with landowners.) If you have stables, put your horse away as normal and perhaps shut the top door.

If the horse is young or easily spooked, consider staying at the stables for the night to handle any panic though take care not to put yourself in danger, for example between the wall and a very nervy horse.

A reassuring pat over the door plus a juicy carrot or two may help. You should consider wildlife in general. If you are having a bonfire yourself, then make sure that there are no dozing hedgehogs in the fire before it is lit (you could put some mesh around the bottom to stop them getting in while it is lit) and make sure your bonfire cannot ruin any habitat such as trees or hedges. And if you are having firework night fun, be considerate to those around you. A word to neighbours with pets will give them warning so they can get Tiddles in before the fun starts.

Or if you live in a place with numerous pets around you, including your own, consider a quieter evening that’s just as much fun – sparklers for the smaller children, traditional games such as apple bobbing for the older ones and adults, and a tasty barbecue instead of a bonfire. Enjoy bangers of a different type this year.

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