29 December 2023 , 10:58
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It’s New Year’s Eve on Sunday, which means parties, popping corks and fireworks to bring in 2024 with a bang.
However, those neighbourhood pyrotechnics mean millions of pet owners are worried they will spend December 31 comforting scared and stressed animals rather than celebrating, or even just relaxing in front of the TV.
Here are some tips to help your furry friends cope with fireworks:
Walk your dog in daylight, so they will be safely inside after dark when the fireworks start.
Create a safe haven for dogs. They may already have one, such as a crate, but if not, choose an area in a quiet part of your home, ideally away from windows. Put their favourite toys there and encourage them to spend time there with treats or chews before the fireworks start. Your dog may like to squeeze into a confined space when they are scared, so blankets are good for burrowing into.
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Cats may also want to find somewhere safe to hide, such as under furniture. Don’t try and tempt them out until they are ready to emerge.
Turning on the TV or radio, or playing music can help block out the noise from fireworks, and closing doors and curtains muffles sounds and hides flashes.
Consider bringing smaller animals such as rabbits in hutches inside for the night. If that is not practical, then partially covering hutches and outdoor runs with blankets may help. Make sure they have an opening to see out,
Make sure small animals such as hamsters have plenty of fresh bedding for burrowing.
If your pet has ongoing issues with anxiety, ask your vet for advice.
Meet Brodie, the million-dollar pooch
Brodie, a cross between a poodle and a golden retriever, is also Cliff's official service dog (SWNS)That’s how much the four-year-old Goldendoodle has earned this year since becoming a social media sensation.
Owner Cliff Brush, from Miami, uploaded his first video with Brodie on TikTok under Brodiethatdood in 2020 and within weeks had 35,000 followers - that number is now 6.6million.
And he has made $1 million in 2023 - £788,000 - from his viral videos and brand deals, with famous fans including Jennifer Aniston, Madison Beer and Ryan Reynolds.
Brodie, a cross between a poodle and a golden retriever, is also Cliff's official service dog.
Cliff said: "I have an autoimmune condition called lichen planus. It's when the immune system treats the skin as a foreign body and attacks it. We found that stress is a big factor but ever since I've had Brodie, I don't have flare-ups.
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"He's allowed on planes because he's my service animal and as long as he’s with me he's comfortable.
"We get a first-class seat just for him. He's a big dog and if we're flying economy he needs a whole row otherwise he won't fit. I'm very fortunate he had such a great disposition from birth. I don't even take credit for it.
Brodie has made a million dollars this year (SWNS)"He thinks it's normal to have that much attention and for everyone to know his name. He loves kids and if people are petting him, that's his element. He's a giant teddy bear.
"We’ve been on stage multiple times at different events and crowds don't intimidate him at all. He's only freaked out by vacuum cleaners and plastic garbage bags in the wind."
Webbox pet pic
We love a cute pet picture, and so do our friends at Webbox.
And we all want to see your favourite snaps of your animal pals, so please send them in – the cuter the better. We’ll share as many as we can on this page, and in our brilliant newsletter too.
Reader Janet Follet from Basingstoke sent us this lovely shot of her cat Manie guarding a takeaway pizza.
Janet said: “Manie just loves his dad so when he brought home a pizza for our lunch he stood guard over it so brother Lammie couldn’t get his paws on it.”
Send your snaps to [email protected] or tag our socials. Make sure to tell us a bit about your pet, what makes them special to you and where you live. We can’t wait to see them!