Here's how to ensure that your pets have a happy Diwali too!

Every year, it's the same story. Pets running for cover while yowling, as the human revelers outside burst loud crackers incessantly till the wee hours during Diwali. Due to their sensitive hearing, the noises outside can leave animals anxious and traumatized, and their owners helpless.

"During Diwali, our bull mastiff My Love's demeanour changes completely. The sounds of the crackers make him tremble and hide in corners. Once, when he was younger, he even ran away from the house, as he couldn’t handle the loud noises anymore. I have been dealing with this issue since the day I got him, and every year we try to comfort him through different measures, as he is very dear to all the family members,” says Abhinav Manikpuri. Adya Shrivastava who owns a pug, and , adds, “Its like doomsday for them. All three of them are small breeds, and they get scared to death when they hear the sounds of the crackers.Two of them hide under the sofa, while one goes under the bed when she hears a noise. I feel so sad that I am unable to help them. A few years ago, my cat ran away, and I never found her ever again. ”

During this time of crisis for our furry friends, we have to ensure we take extra measures to make them feel safer and more comfortable. Bhopal Times speaks to pet owners, vets and animal activists in the city about how one can help their pets have calmer, happier Diwali this year.

FROM EAR PLUGS TO CALMING COLLARS: HOW TO REDUCE YOUR DOGS’ ANXIETY

Dr Mukesh Tiwari, a veterinarian from the city, says that animals, especially dogs, feel a lot of stress when they hear loud noises, due to their sensitive hearing. He says one of the solutions is to put cotton plugs in their ears. “This should reduce the noise comparatively,” he explains. He adds that there are several medicines available in the market that help calm the dogs down. “You have to basically put a drop of it on the dog’s head, between its ears. It’s effects last for up to a week.” In addition to that, he says there are several calming collars available in the market, which release chemicals that reduce anxiety in pets. There are calming pills too, which one can administer on the basis of their pets’ weight. Dr Tiwari adds that the medicines don’t affect the health of the dogs adversely, and that their effect is temporary.

HOLD YOUR DOG TIGHT OR ORGANISE A DOG PLAYDATE!

Last year, Ravindra Dangi organised a special Diwali date for his pooch along with his fellow dog owner friends. “We all live in the same colony and all our friends have dogs. When we brought them all together at a friends’ house, we found that they were comparatively more comfortable and their moods were relatively better. They were playing and eating together, and it was good to see that they too could enjoy the festival. We are planning to do the same this year.” Anurag Bansal, owner of a beagle named Google, says, “I read a book to my dog on Diwali, and don’t let him feel that anything is different than usual. Us behaving differently reinforces their fear. When I go out, I put him in my bedroom, where the noises are comparatively lesser. I have tried and tested many things, but one thing that works best is when I hold him on my lap.”

DON’T FORGET ABOUT THE RUNAWAYS AND STRAYS

Animal activist Shivangi Thakur says, “Diwali is a time for celebration, but as responsible citizens, we should also ensure that the animals who are on the streets don’t suffer due to our celebrations. Simple things like opening the gates for the strays who are seeking shelter, or feeding them will help.” She adds that a lot of stray dogs tend to run away and get lost too. “So, this year, we are putting collars on them, where we have written the name of the area they are from, as well as a phone number the person can contact if they run into the lost dog.” “A few days before Diwali, we organise a feeding campaign for stray dogs. That’s because often end up hiding during the celebrations, and eat poisonous things. After the celebrations are over, we have another feeding campaign, where we also check on them. Even though we can’t cover the entire city, we always reach out to those who ask us for help. We have a rescue van which roams the city and people can contact us at 9131962769,” says Dr. Sukanya Ray, from Humane Animal shelter.

See more: Dhanteras 2024: Rituals traditions celebrations across India and what to buy




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