New Year’s Eve Safety Tips for Your Pet

Published on December 29, 2022

While celebrating a new year with fireworks is fun for humans, our animal companions can become scared

SAN ANTONIO (December 29, 2022) - As San Antonians gear up for family get-togethers and fireworks displays, they should keep in mind pets can become very frightened by all the New Year’s Eve noise and commotion. City of San Antonio Animal Care Services (SAACS) offers the following tips to protect your pet as we head into 2023:

• Give your pet some peace and quiet. Pets do not like loud noises. A closed-off area inside your home can be a blessing for a nervous pet.
• Remove anything around your pet they can destroy. Pets can get destructive when they are frightened. Provide some toys to occupy your pet while you are out. If your pet is crate trained, make sure they can curl up inside if they get scared. Fresh food and water are a must and a treat or two would not hurt either.
• NEVER leave pets unattended outside, even in a fenced yard or on a tether. Pets can overreact when they are scared and that dog who never left your yard before could easily dig a hole under the fence to escape the noise. Fear of the fireworks and outside gatherings can also cause your pet to become dangerously entangled in their tether.  By law, tethered dogs must have a properly fitting collar. Chain tethers of any weight are not allowed per San Antonio’s animal care ordinance.
• Protect your pet from pranksters. Many animal cruelty cases start out as what someone considers a harmless prank. But there is nothing harmless about shooting fireworks at a pet. Bring outdoor pets indoors, at least for the evening. SAACS will investigate anyone suspected of cruelly treating any animal.
• A collar and microchip ID can help your pet get back home if they get lost. Roaming animals stand the risk of being picked up by the City’s Animal Care Officers. Your pet’s ID is more than their ticket home. City microchip licenses are the law and can be implanted anytime during regular SAACS shelter business hours.
• When in doubt, consult the experts. Your veterinarian and local pet supply stores have a variety of remedies to soothe your pet’s nerves.

SAACS will close at 4 p.m. on New Year’s Eve and will remain closed for New Year’s Day but Animal Care Officers are still on the job. The shelter will re-open at 1 p.m., Jan. 2 for those interested in adopting a pet or who may have lost their pet during the holiday.