“What do you get if you divide the circumference of a jack-o’-lantern by its diameter? Pumpkin π.”
John Evans
Whether you love Halloween or dread it, it’s almost upon us again and with Halloween comes fireworks night (which is not really ‘ a night’ fireworks have already started and will go on for a good week or more).
Our beautiful beasts need a little extra care & attention over these next few weeks, as it’s easy to forget just how scary noise can be. Walking the dog this morning I met a lady who said every year one of her dogs (a 10-year-old Jack Russell called Keely) would be terrified and bark non stop when she heard the fireworks, but last year it didn’t make a peep. It was this silence that alerted her to the fact that sadly Keely had lost her hearing.
As with us humans exposure therapy can help, make the scary noise into a positive experience, and it can really make a difference. With the digital age we are in, there are a variety of ways to get firework noises onto your phone or computer. Play them now in the run-up alongside some treats, and help your dog or cat get used to the noise. (I wonder if I sit with a doughnut looking at a photo of a spider that will help me!)
It’s common for our pets to hide when they are scared, so if they do have a favourite place, put a blanket or something that smells of them or you there in advance, a Codedimoda cat bed, or a Charley Chau snuggle dog bed can provide the safety and comfort your cat or dog are looking for this coming Halloween.