Ahead of tomorrow night’s New Year’s Eve celebrations, RSPCA SA is reminding pet owners to ensure their animals are safe and protected as much as possible while fireworks are going off.

Sensitive hearing makes animals especially prone to stress from loud noises, resulting in some animals every year escaping from their homes.

“Fireworks and animals are never a good mix,” RSPCA SA spokesperson Carolyn Jones says.

“Our Inspectors and Rescue Team have responded to dogs who have impaled themselves on fences or been hit by cars after escaping from properties.

“Other animals, too, have been injured while trying to flee – the sound of fireworks is terrifying for many animals.

“We’re really hoping people heed the warnings and take steps to ensure their loved pets get through the night without escaping their homes and with minimal stress.

“We want everyone to start 2023 safe and sound, and that includes all the precious animals in our community.”

RSPCA SA advises pet owners to:

• Ensure dogs and cats are microchipped, with up-to-date owner details, and that they’re wearing an ID tag, should the worst happen and they escape. (Stray animals coming to RSPCA that are microchipped often have out-of-date contact information for owners.)

• If possible keep pets inside with the windows closed, curtains drawn and sufficient food and water.

• Where possible, stay at home with pets and reward good animal behaviour during the night by giving treats.

• If pets cannot come inside, double check yards are secure so they cannot escape.

• Exercise and feed pets before the fireworks start, as that will help settle them.

• Consider purchasing a “thunder jacket”. This jacket has a calming effect on some dogs and helps them feel safe

• Never leave a dog (or any animal) tethered during fireworks as they can panic and choke themselves.

RSPCA SA advises anyone who loses their animal to act quickly, and take the following steps:

• Contact their local council to register their lost pet or see if they’ve been handed in. (Local councils are listed at www.lga.sa.gov.au/councils )
• Contact local veterinary clinics, including 24-hour emergency clinics.
• Visit their local council pound or animal shelter in person as animal descriptions online or over the phone can sometimes be vague or inaccurate
• Post a photo and description of their pet (including the suburb where they went missing) on social media sites such as Lost Dogs of Adelaide and Lost Pets of South Australia.
• Post on their own social media channels to spread the word amongst their friends
• Distribute lost posters and flyers around their neighbourhood Anyone finding a loose animal is advised to try to catch and/or contain the animal (eg: in a backyard), so long as this can be done without endangering anyone’s safety.

If the animal is uninjured, then contact the local council and check the lost pets social media sites (see above) in case the animal’s owners have posted a message.

If the animal is injured, then contact RSPCA on 1300 477 722. More information on what to do if you’ve lost or found an animal - https://www.rspcasa.org.au/services/lost-and-found/