Nichol's Pet Warehouse manager Gareth Keenan fits Siberian husky-golden retriever Ben with a ThunderShirt in Dunedin, designed to promote calmness in canines. Photo / Peter McIntosh
Nichol's Pet Warehouse manager Gareth Keenan fits Siberian husky-golden retriever Ben with a ThunderShirt in Dunedin, designed to promote calmness in canines. Photo / Peter McIntosh
SPCA Otago is renewing its call to ban the private sale of fireworks as retailers prepare to sell them from today.
SPCA Otago business development manager Kirsty Thomson said the organisation supported only public displays of fireworks and wanted a ban on their public sale.
Guy Fawkes is on Saturday. SPCA Otago called on pet owners to prepare for the ''uncertain and frightening time'' for animals.
SPCA Otago animal welfare inspector and director Helen Beattie said owners should prepare for the ''fireworks season'' by working to reduce the physical and psychological harm fireworks could cause.
Extreme anxiety from the pyrotechnics could develop a firework phobia in pets, but appropriate management could reduce the risk, she said.
Veterinarians could offer advice on how to reduce a pet's anxiety, Dr Beattie said.
A pet could be given a ''calming'' pheromone product before the fireworks began to reduce stress. The options for safe sedation of pets at home were limited, she said.
''Some products merely incapacitate the animal without relieving anxiety.''
Pets often went missing after fireworks displays so pet owners should ensure their animals had a secure, safe, indoor space for the night. They should be microchipped, in case they escaped and got lost.
Pet 'shirts' promote calmness
Nichol's Pet Warehouse manager Gareth Keenan said the Dunedin shop was selling ThunderShirts to reduce stress in dogs, including firework-related anxiety.
The tight-fitting ''shirt'' provides a constant pressure that has a calming effect for most dogs. It mimicked the comfort of being held, Mr Keenan said.
In a statement released yesterday, police said if anyone noticed fireworks being used in a way that endangered people or property, they should call 111 straight away.
East Otago fire risk management officer Mark Bredenbeck said Guy Fawkes was a busy time for firefighters. The number of vegetation fires increased because people often launched fireworks without any consideration for where they landed.
He urged people using fireworks to consider the safety of others before lighting the fuse.
''Point the fireworks at the stars and not at your mates.''
