Keep your pets safe

The RWAF is supporting Wood Green, and is happy to share their advice on keeping pets safe during the fireworks season.

http://www.woodgreen.org.uk/fireworks


Keep your pets safe and sound
Wood Green, The Animals Charity is urging responsible pet owners to protect their pets this fireworks season. From Bonfire Night to New Year celebrations, every year thousands of animals suffer as a result of fireworks being let off.
It is important that people and pet owners are aware of how much suffering can be caused to animals by the casual use of fireworks. We are urging animal lovers to help us spread the word and tell people what they can do to help their pets cope.

We've made this video to give people an idea of what if feels like for an animal when something inexplicable happens that threatens their sense of well-being and security, like fireworks. We hope you'll share it.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=9chRsMqV9ZM
Small animals
Watch our advice video or read below for further tips.
Rodents and small animals each have their own way of showing signs of fear. Behaviours to watch out for include:

Rabbits
Stamping their back feet repetitively, this can continue for several minutes and often occurs after unexpected noises or movements within the environment
Hiding in a corner head first
Wide eyes or third eyelid across
Rapid breathing
Kicking and biting when picked up
In some cases a bonded pair of rabbits may have a fight
How to manage a fearful small animal

Small animals often find a large and sudden change of environment distressing. We would reccommend the following:

Add extra hides and bedding to their accommodation.
Lock away outdoor pets in their night accommodation slightly earlier than normal to allow them to settle before the fireworks start.
Provide them with their favourite healthy treats in ways that will stimulate them to forage and focus. This could include hay kebabs, paper rummage bags, stuffed toilet rolls, feed balls and activity treat boards.
Avoid too much handling.
Companionship is the biggest protector against fear for most small animals (not all rodents), a neutered pair of rabbits or a small group of same sex guinea pigs are far more likely to remain in a relaxed state as their same species companions offer security and comfort.

OK...looked up Bonfire Night and Guy Fawkes Night. Is this still celebrating the Protestant vs Catholic w/ the Protestants winning the 1690 battle? Or when Guy Fawkes was hung? Or has it sort of evolved into something else? It is not celebrated here at all, which is sort of interesting since it is celebrated most other places that England colonized.

I think the meaning has been lost, as with a lot of other celebrations. Now I think bonfire night is purely an excuse to let off lots of fireworks.

I agree with Rachel. Bonfire Night just seems to be about who has put on the best firework display these days!

Mum always says that no one ever celebrates Guy Fawkes Night anymore. It's normally just children Trick or Treating (which is actually your tradition).

FluffSlave wrote:I agree with Rachel. Bonfire Night just seems to be about who has put on the best firework display these days!

Mum always says that no one ever celebrates Guy Fawkes Night anymore. It's normally just children Trick or Treating (which is actually your tradition).

We celebrate Halloween on Oct 31. Certain areas of the USA celebrate it more than others. The community in which I live is 90% Christian with 95% of these being Protestant. And of the Protestants a very high percentage consider Halloween a pagan holiday and offer 'Fall Festivals' and such as an alternative. Now where I lived on the East Coast, 95% Catholic, < 5% Protestant Halloween was next to Christmas as being the most celebrated holiday.
In our county there the Halloween parade lasted 3 hours with bands, floats, contestants in various categories of talent!

At our house we give out candy on Halloween or if the Harvest Festival is on that night at church we go there and give out candy as the children go around the festival booths. We also have a special dinner to celebrate the Celtic New Year since both of our families are from 'the Old Country'.(that's you guys live ) Sometimes the dinner is on Nov 1 though...All Saint's Day and my Father's birthday.

My birthday is on November 1st too gentl