Traumatised animals seek shelter from fireworks and thunder storm

IN a case of 'prevention is better than cure', numerous city pet owners stocked up on calming medication for their dogs and cats ahead of New Year’s Eve and the inevitable noisy fireworks the holiday brings.

This was revealed by Dr Geoff Fourie from Empangeni Veterinary Hospital, who treated only one animal for injuries relating to fireworks.

The scared dog had attempted to jump over or get through a fence, cutting its groin area in the process.

“It was not a very serious injury, more of a skin wound. The dog was brought in on the morning of New Year’s Day and discharged that afternoon,” said Fourie.

Empangeni SPCA chairperson Marina Visser said, while the fireworks were bad this year, not many stray or lost animals were brought in.

“People’s pets did go missing over the weekend, but we’re finding that many people who pick up stray animals do not bring them in to the SPCA, but keep them at their homes and report the missing animal on the various social media platforms and groups,’’ she said.

“It is against the law to hold on to a stray animal; it must rather be brought to the SPCA.”

The SPCA is a central point to which stray or lost animals must be taken for the appropriate care and shelter.

It should also be the first point of contact for owners whose animals go missing; animals that are taken to the homes of those who pick them up may never be reunited with their owners.

Richards Bay SPCA manager Shelly

Prinsloo also said numerous animals were posted on social media as missing over the weekend, but that only eight strays were brought in.

“The combination of thunder and fireworks wasn’t nice, but there were no fatalities or injuries that we are aware of,” said Prinsloo.

In the event of a missing pet, owners should contact the SPCAs on the below numbers:

Richards Bay: 035 7532086 Empangeni: 071 1744746 eShowe: 035 4744169