Pets and fireworks don't mix, say N.B. animal owners as Canada Day displays near

While it's important to keep human ears safe from the dazzling Canada Day fireworks that will fill the skies across New Brunswick tonight, it's also a good time to think about our animal friends.

It's not just dogs and cats that can get spooked by the booming displays, either — something Andrea Mulder-Slater knows all too well.

The Bocabec, N.B., woman and her husband first brought their quarter horse Diesel home to their farm three years ago. 

It just so happened that people were setting fireworks off on the nearby beach that same evening.

"[Diesel] completely and totally freaked out because the sound was very loud, it was very close," she said.

"Horses are flighty animals, so when they get scared they tend to bolt."

Luckily, the couple was able to rein Diesel in and secure him inside the stable with a radio turned up loud to distract him from the noise outside.

But Mulder-Slater knows things could've been much worse if the horse was out loose in the field.

The incident prompted her to post a plea on social media for neighbours to let others in the area know in advance if they were going to be setting off fireworks. She later had a sign made that she posted at the top of their road asking people not to set off fireworks on the beach.

It all seemed to help and the neighbours were understanding, but that doesn't mean Mulder-Slater doesn't take precautions with Diesel to this day.

"Being more aware of what could happen is a big thing," she said. "Just being prepared and knowing that when there are fireworks coming that you make sure that your animals are safe inside the same way you would with a family dog." 

Fight or flight

Bonnie-Lee Bartlett couldn't agree more. 

She runs Angel's Dog Rescue in Moncton, N.B., and said she'll likely get a handful of calls about lost dogs after Tuesday night's fireworks display in the city.

If a dog decides to bolt, said Bartlett, it can be almost impossible to chase and catch, so it's best to leave your furry friends at home and not bring them to the fireworks at all.

"Once they're running, they go into a fight or flight mode," she said.

"They won't let their owner catch them, they won't let anybody approach them. If you call their name, they're going to run further, so it's really a bad thing."

Bartlett's advice is to find your pets a quiet place inside your home with blankets and toys for comfort, and to turn on the TV or music to alleviate the noise from the fireworks.

You should also make sure your dog has identification tags with a phone number or an address in case they do decide to flee.

It's also important to remember that just because the fireworks have ended, it doesn't mean your animal's fear has subsided.

"They hang on to that anxiety," Bartlett said. "The next day they could still be fearful when they go outside and they hear a car door shut or something, they're still jumpy from the night before and they'll take off."