The animal protection organization TASSO gives tips for New Year's Eve
Sulzbach/Ts. The time has come: the worst night of the year for wild animals and domestic animals is upon us. While we humans happily say goodbye to the old year on New Year's Eve and look forward to the coming months, numerous animals suffer from the unpredictable and inexplicable noise. The animal protection organization TASSO eV, which runs Europe's largest free pet registry, wants to protect as many dogs and cats as possible from this stress and, above all, from escaping and therefore gives important tips.
The year 2023 started with a sad record. After the restrictions and deprivations caused by the corona pandemic, many people wanted to celebrate wildly again. With consequences for many dogs and cats who had to endure anxious hours during this time. More than 1,100 animals were recorded missing at the TASSO emergency call center on December 31, 2022 and January 1, 2023. “We know that more animals escape on New Year's Eve than on any other day, but this enormous number was shocking for us too,” says Heike Wempen-Dany, head of the TASSO emergency call center. “Especially when it comes to dogs, the numbers are simply extreme. While 88 dogs escaped on an average day in 2023, there were 333 a day on the two days of the New Year. The missing cats were around the annual average.
But that's no reason to assume that cats suffer less, says Lisa Borchard, animal welfare officer at TASSO and a veterinarian specializing in animal behavior. “Fortunately, outdoor cats are let out less or not at all by their owners during this time and are therefore less likely to escape. Nevertheless, they also suffer greatly from the situation on New Year's Eve.” In TASSO's opinion, an important part of responsible animal husbandry is to protect pets from this fear as much as possible. Borchard: “Mental illnesses should be taken just as seriously as physical illnesses. When fear lasts for a long time or is severe, the body releases stress hormones, which lead, for example, to an increased heart and breathing rate. Something similar happens in the body when an animal is in pain. In short: Anyone who is afraid suffers.” Even with animals that show mild stress reactions, animal owners should intervene and not dismiss it, appeals Borchard.
Tips for a safe New Year
- Stay at home: whether dog or cat, whether visible fear or not. It's best for pet owners to stay with their four-legged friends on New Year's Eve and not leave them alone. This means they always have the certainty that their people are there for them.
- Block out stimuli: put down the blinds, turn on music or television. Blocking out the unusual noise as much as possible can calm your four-legged friends.
- Offer and respect a place of retreat: Some dogs and cats like to withdraw when they are scared. Your people can support you by providing free access to these retreats and furnishing them comfortably. It is helpful to positively associate these retreats in advance, i.e. weeks before New Year's Eve. For example, by placing the dog's favorite blanket there and offering a chewing stick.
- Aids: Hearing protection, so-called Thundershirts or relaxing massages can help animals on New Year's Eve. Pet owners should inform themselves early and familiarize the animals with the aids so that they do not have to be reintroduced in the stressful New Year's Eve situation.
- Provide assistance: If a fearful animal seeks closeness to its human, the human should be there for it. Some animals just want their two-legged friends to be close, others seek as close contact as possible and demand petting. “It is a myth that animals’ fear increases when we are there for them,” says Borchard, dispelling a widespread misconception.
- Drive away: Especially with dogs, if you live in a busy place where New Year's Eve is celebrated extensively, you should just drive away if possible. “For example, to friends or relatives who live where it is quiet or on one of the islands where firecrackers are forbidden,” suggests Borchard. If a longer absence is not possible, a night drive on the highway or a trip to a place where fireworks are prohibited can also help. These include national parks and airports.
- Back up, back up, back up: Of course, dogs also have to leave the house and loose themselves on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. It is then important to secure them well. Preferably double, with a leash on the collar and another on the harness. A safety harness with an additional waist belt is also available for anxious dogs. In the event of an emergency, dogs should also be registered with TASSO and wear the TASSO badge visibly on their collar or harness.
- In case of emergency: The employees of the TASSO emergency call center are there for pet owners throughout New Year's Eve. They give valuable tips for the search, ensure that search reports are created, ensure that found animals come home and calm angry callers.