Louth County Council advice dog owners how to keep their pets safe this Halloween

Louth County Council have issued advice to pet owners and the general public on how to keep animals safe and secure during the Halloween season.

Although the annual celebration includes many fun activities, the additional noise at this time of year, from illegal fireworks, bangers and other Halloween paraphernalia can be distressing for pets.

Dogs in particular are especially sensitive to loud noise, as their hearing is approximately four times more sensitive than humans and they can hear much higher frequency sounds than people.

The screeching sounds, pop and bang of fireworks can be very frightening for dogs, and cause them to run and seek shelter.

As a result, pets can go missing from their home if they are not kept indoors.

Louth County Council Dog Pound are warning dog owners, and anyone who is caring for a dog, to be aware of the impact that Halloween festivities can have.

“We are already getting reports of dogs bolting when illegal fireworks are being set off, so it is important that dogs are kept on leads, and cannot escape from harnesses and collars while on walks,” said Louth County Veterinarian Garrett Shine.

He advised that dogs should be kept indoors if there are fireworks being set off in close proximity to your home.

It is also advisable to ensure dogs are not left alone in unsecured gardens for any length of time during the Halloween season, as there may be a risk of them running off.

“Please make sure your dog is microchipped and the data is up to date, including a current name, address and telephone number. This can be crucial in the event of your dog running off in reaction to fireworks, and then finding itself at the pound.

"We scan all dogs entering the pound for microchips, so you will be reunited with your dog much quicker if we can contact you directly.”

If a dog goes missing, owners are advised to check latest updates from Louth County Council Animal via the link https://www.louthcoco.ie/en/services/dog-pound/

The County Veterinarian added: “This can be vital for owners, to know their pets are found, and are safe at the pound. By checking the website they can access the very latest information, out of hours, and don’t have the anxious wait until the pound is open the following morning.”