It's that time of year again—time to ring in the new year! If you're a pet owner, you know that any holiday celebration's loud noises and bright lights can overwhelm your furry friends. That's why it's essential to ensure your pet has a safe space and is desensitized to loud noises before the festivities begin. Here are some tips on how to have a safe and fun New Year's Eve with your pets.
Give Them a Safe Space
Whether it's their bed, crate, or other designated areas, give your pet a space to retreat if things get too overwhelming for them. This will allow them somewhere to go if they need some quiet time away from the noise and chaos of the celebration. You should also ensure that all guests know not to disturb your pet in their designated spot.
Décor Don'ts for New Year's Eve With Pets
It would be best if you kept all decorations out of reach for your pets. Tinsel, ribbons, and other small objects are particularly appealing but can cause serious health issues if ingested by animals. Additionally, pay attention to what kind of decorations you choose—avoid anything with glitter or sparkles, as these can cause injury if ingested.
Keep Hors D’oeuvres Out of Reach
Ensure all food is kept out of reach of pets, off counters and tables, and preferably in an enclosed area. Some everyday food items such as chocolate, grapes, nuts, alcohol, onions, raisins, and garlic are dangerous for animals and must be kept out of reach at all times!
Desensitize Pets to Loud Noises
Before the festivities begin on New Year's Eve, it is important to desensitize your pet so they are not scared by loud noises such as fireworks or horns when they go off during the celebration. Start by playing recordings of fireworks or horns at low volume while giving them treats or toys, which will help distract them from being scared by the loud noises. You can find animal desensitization audio recordings on YouTube and Spotify. This will help your pet become less anxious with unfamiliar noises.
Distract With Toys
Another way to help keep your pet distracted during celebrations is to give them toys that require physical activity, such as balls or chew toys, so they don't become bored while everyone else is enjoying themselves! The more distracted they are with interactive playtime activities, the less likely they'll be intimidated by loud noises or tempted by people's food lying around!
ID Tag Them
Just in case the fireworks or other potentially scary event makes your dog or cat bolt out the door, it is essential to ensure that your pet wears a collar with an ID tag that can be read clearly with your contact information.
If your dog or cat is already microchipped, make sure your contact information is up to date on the microchip website.
Conclusion:
New Year's Eve celebrations don't have to leave anyone feeling left out —including our beloved pets! These steps, such as designating a safe space for our furry friends, desensitizing them from loud noises, and providing interactive toys, can ensure everyone has an enjoyable time ringing in 2023.
Following these tips will help ensure you have a safe and fun New Year's Eve celebration with pets this year! So grab those party hats (and maybe even one for Fido), and let the countdown begin!
We wish everyone a happy and safe 2023!