With the festive season around the corner and the December holidays in full swing, it is important to ensure that your pets’ best interest is taken to heart when going on holiday.
Micarla Boucher of the Kroonstad SPCA was willing to share a few tips to ensure just that. If your pets are staying at home while you are on holiday, make sure of the following:
- Have somebody reliable take care of your pets.
- Ensure that the people who take care of your pets, are animal lovers.
- Introduce your pets to their sitter ahead of time.
- Have your pets stay where they are familiar with their surroundings.
- Be aware that going to an animal shelter for the holiday can be stressful for your animal, but it is better than being alone.
- Ensure they have food and water.
If your pet is missing
- Make a social media post.
- Post on your community groups.
- Notify your local animal shelter or SPCA.
- Make flyers and post them around your town or city – not everyone has social media.
- Speak to your neighbours. See who has CCTV cameras and ask them to check the footage.
- Go and search actively – your pet will react to your voice.
- If your pet has a microchip, flag it as lost or stolen on the website.
If you pick up a pet
- Scan it for a microchip at your nearest veterinarian or SPCA.
- Post on social media.
- If you cannot host the pet, take it to the nearest SPCA or animal shelter.
If you see any stray animals, please take it to the nearest SPCA or stay with the animal until help arrives. Make a post on social media.
Let us try to keep all our pets and animals safe during the festive season.
If you can help
The SPCA urgently needs animal food for the December holidays. Readers who wish to offer their support to the SPCA can contact the association in Kroonstad on 079-871-5947, Boucher on 072-199-8339, or the Bethlehem SPCA on 058-303-3998.
