Trick or treat is not for animals
DOGS and cats should be kept away from fake cobwebs over the Halloween period, a top veterinary surgeon warned.
The spooky strands have become very popular over the past number of years.
They are now the stuff of nightmares, not just for birds but any small animals not strong enough to break free from their grasp.
Celebrity veterinary surgeon Pete Wedderburn said: “It’s possible and it’s common sense to keep cats and dogs away from the fake webs.
“Keep them out of the reach of clambering cats and chew-mad dogs!”
The Irish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals ( ISPCA) is also calling on the public to be aware of the dangers to wildlife around Halloween.
Stress
They say that small birds, any kind of netting can be “as sticky as concrete and can act like fly traps where they become entangled”.
ISPCA spokesperson Carmel Murray said: “Fireworks can also cause harm to wild animal through loud noises, toxins and direct obstructions.
“Fireworks can cause birds to become disorientated. The birds fly at lower heights to avoid the fireworks and collide into homes and trees, resulting in their death.
“People who want to enjoy their holidays do not need to forgo all decorations. For Halloween, people can hang fake cobwebs up from inside their windows or use other decorations such as fake candles. This way the only ones who are spooked are the trick- or-treaters.”
The Society recommends that pets are not kept outdoors during Halloween, nor should animals be dressed-up in costumes as many pets find this uncomfortable and stressful.
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DOGS can take more than 24
●
hours to recover from firework exposure, a charity has warned.
Dogs Trust – in Finglas, Dublin – pleaded with owners to keep their pooches indoors over Halloween.
Dogs’ hearing is approximately four times more sensitive than humans, so the sound of fireworks can easily overwhelm them.
Research has revealed that ●
while almost three-quarters of dogs recover by the next morning following firework exposure, recovery can take up to one day in 10 per cent, up to one week in 12 per cent, and several weeks or even months in under 3 per cent of all dogs affected by the loud noises.