Keep Your Dogs & Cats Safe On New Year's Eve

Having a party this New Year's?

Take some precautions with your pets - both dogs and cats.

If they're excitable and apt to become upset by noise, confusion, and strange people acting silly, put them in a separate room and go in now and then to check on them and assure them that all is well.

Most cats will simply go hide when things get confusing - make sure your cat has a safe place to go where you can check up on him or her later.

Even if your dogs love guests and won't be bothered, keep them locked up during those times when the most guests are arriving or departing. If they're like most dogs, they Will be excited by having company, and excited dogs can get out the door in a flash. If you aren't standing right there to notice and bring them back inside, they could get lost in the confusion.

Meanwhile, during the party: Stress to your guests that the critters aren't allowed human treats. Even if you usually share, letting everyone share could lead to a stomach upset, or worse. Remember that chocolate and raisins can be deadly to dogs!

Remember that your dog needs his/her normal routine even if you're having fun with guests. So if you feed your dogs in the evening, keep to schedule. And remember to let them outside for a potty break on schedule too!

After the party, when you're cleaning up, be sure to pick up stray goodies - including leftover alcoholic drinks. Some dogs and cats think alcohol tastes pretty good, and you don't need a drunken dog!

Some communities shoot fireworks on New Year's Eve - if yours does, be sure to bring your dogs inside and away from the noise. Frightened dogs can sometimes scale the highest fence in their effort to run away from loud noises!

If you're going to a large party somewhere else, leave your dogs at home - even if they've been invited. Under calmer circumstances taking them along can be fun, but many dogs become stressed in strange surroundings - and when there's plenty of noise and confusion.

Our rescue group spent weeks hunting for a dog who had gone along to a party and had been tied outside the front door. We don't know if he got bored or frightened and decided to get himself loose - or if some prankster untied the leash. But we never did locate that lost dog.

Keep your best friends safe - so you really will get your new year off to a happy start.