Christchurch City Council’s animal management team is urging pet owners to take special care of their animals this fireworks season.
Animal services manager Lionel Bridger says Guy Fawkes Day on November 5 is typically the busiest time of the year for the team as they deal with frightened animals who have escaped their properties.
“This time is incredibly stressful for pets and their owners, with animals getting spooked and confused by the loud noise of fireworks which can often prompt them to run away,” Bridger said.
“If you have pets, we recommend keeping them inside or confined in a safe space at night during the period which fireworks are available, which is from 2 to 5 November.
“Keep your doors, windows, and curtains closed to try and lessen the noise and minimise any flashing lights outside.
“You can also leave on the TV or radio to distract your pets from what’s going on outside.
“If you’re heading out for the evening, we recommend organising to have a friend or family member stay with your pet to keep them company.”
Bridger said the team is kept busy collecting roaming animals at this time of year.
“If you often take your dog’s collar and ID tag off when you’re at home, it may pay to leave it on until Guy Fawkes is over so that we have a way of identifying who the dog belongs to.
“We can normally reunite animals with their owners very quickly if they are microchipped or have an ID/registration tag, so now is a great time to check that we have your contact details correct in our system.”
Animal owners should call the city council contact centre immediately if their pet goes missing.
“The contact centre is open 24/7, and the team are often able to match a dog to its owner straight away without them needing to stay at the shelter,” says Bridger.
“We want to make sure we can get your animal home safe and sound as soon as possible.”
