Dogs  |  4 Nov 2024

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Pet owners are being urged to take extra care of their animals over the coming days.

Guy Fawkes on 5 November is traditionally the busiest time of year for the Christchurch City Council animal management team, as they deal with animals that have been spooked from the loud boom of fireworks.

“Guy Fawkes can be a really stressful time for pets – they often become confused and run away from home after being frightened by the fireworks,” says Animal Services Manager Lionel Bridger.

“While fireworks aren’t as readily available as they were a few years ago, we still have calls throughout the evening after panicked pets are displaced from their homes.”

Mr Bridger says there’s a few steps to take to limit the chance of your pup getting out and about.

“We recommend keeping your pets inside or confined in a safe space at night around the Guy Fawkes period. 

“Keep your doors, windows and curtains closed to try and lessen the noise and minimise any flashing lights outside. You can also leave the TV or radio on to distract your pets from what’s going on outside,” says Mr Bridger.

Mr Bridger says it may pay to keep your dog’s collar on this Guy Fawkes in case they panic and run away.

“Our team can normally reunite pets and their owners very quickly if they’re microchipped or have an ID/registration tag, so this is also a timely reminder to check we have your contact details correct in our system.”

Animal owners should call the Council Contact Centre on 03 941 8999 or 0800 800 169 immediately if their pet goes missing.

“The Contact Centre is open 24/7 and they’re often able to match a dog to its owner straight away without them needing to stay at the shelter,” says Mr Bridger.

“Our aim is to get your pooch home safe and sound as soon as possible.”