Well protected when it hisses and bangs outside
Eschborn. Some hide under the bed, others rush frantically from one room to the other and still others run away in panic: When the rockets hiss and the firecrackers crack on New Year's Eve, many people are very happy – but for wild and domestic animals it is often the worst night of the year. The animal protection organization TASSO eV, which runs Europe's largest free pet registry, gives helpful tips so that dogs and cats can experience the turn of the year as stress-free and risk-free as possible.
More than 800 dogs and cats were recorded as missing by TASSO on the two days of last year's New Year. “On New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, our phones don't stand still. The animals cannot understand the deafening noise and bright lights and often react instinctively by running away,” says Heike Wempen-Dany, head of the TASSO emergency call center. She knows from experience that the stress on the animals and, as a result, the increasing number of missing person reports begin days before New Year's Eve, as there are already shootings in many places.
TASSO New Year’s Eve tips –
Reduce stress, reduce danger
- Especially at the turn of the year, it becomes clear how important it is that pets are identified and then registered. Through these two steps, lost dogs and cats can be identified without any doubt at any time and assigned to their people.
- Dogs must also leave the house and loose themselves on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. It is important to secure the dogs well – even in your own garden. Preferably double, with a leash on the collar and another on the harness.
- Outdoor cats should stay in a safe home early on.
- Pet owners should definitely support their four-legged friends and not leave them alone on New Year's Eve. When anxious animals seek proximity to their humans, they should be there for their four-legged friends.
- Lowered blinds, familiar music or television noises can have a calming effect on the animals.
- Some dogs and cats like to withdraw. That's why it's helpful to create retreats and furnish them comfortably.
- Hearing protection, Thundershirts or even relaxing massages can relieve stress. However, the prerequisite is that the animals have already learned to associate these aids with calm and security before New Year's Eve, because they do not work just by putting them on, but require prior, step-by-step training.
- With dogs it is often helpful to go to quieter places. Fireworks are prohibited in nature reserves or near airports. Driving on the highway at night can also help you escape the noise.
- Depending on the severity of the fear, anti-anxiety medications can also have a supportive effect. Pet owners should seek advice from a veterinary practice at an early stage.
- There are now effective training approaches for treating fear of noise, such as structured relaxation and habituation training. However, especially if you are afraid of noise, training is demanding and belongs in professional hands, as improper measures can make the fear worse. In the long term, behavioral therapy makes sense because no animal should have to live with fear and stress on a permanent basis.
Alleviate animal suffering in the long term
In order to alleviate the suffering of animals in the long term, TASSO is speaking to German Environmental Aid (YOU H) initiated broad action alliance for a final ban on private New Year's Eve firecrackers and fireworks rockets and also appeals to everyone to set a good example and not to firecrackers.