This week is the last holiday of the year. If you have made it through 2014 without incident it’s easy to get lax and not think about accidents. And if it’s been several years since you have had an accidents, or any near misses, it’s easy to believe it could never happen to you. But New Year’s Eve is a very risky holiday for a whole LIST of reasons: no accidents this year makes it easy to get lazy on safety, in addition to lots of holiday foods, many of which are NOT safe for our dogs you add in alcohol—which is not only toxic to dogs but causes humans to have poor judgement, and like 4rth of July, New Year’s Eve often involves fireworks. So what are some things that you can do to make sure you end the year on a HAPPY note? If you’re hosting a New Year’s Eve party make sure you have an escape plan for your dog. New Year’s Eve parties tend to start early & run long, so there is a lot of time for something to go wrong. Consider letting your dog join the beginning of the party if they are a social butterfly, & then gracefully retire halfway through the final festivities of the year. Dogs get tired when up past their bedtime the same way people do—and a cranky puppy that has been kept up too late is more likely to have a Cranky Canine Incident
DOOR TRAFFIC: Not only do you have the traffic of guests coming & going, but most often you have a lot of door traffic at the height of the party as people head outside at midnight to light fireworks & pop champagne bottles. If you are going in & out of the front door, or have a backyard that isn’t fenced, consider having your dog on-leash as guests arrive or gated away from the door. And putting your dog away as 2014 ticks through its final minutes will also ensure their safety.
BOOZE: Many holiday parties are heavy on the alcohol, & often include champagne at the ball drop. Alcohol is toxic for dogs & often drinks get set down & left unattended…which opens up the opportunity for a dog to sample. Spilled drinks are often a party problem & it’s very easy for your dog to beat the clean-up crew & lap up the spilled liquor. You also need to know your guests. Not all people MAKE GOOD DECISIONS sober, let alone when intoxicated…so if you have people that may think it’s funny ha-ha to get the dog trashed you may want to save your dog by keeping them separate. As people drink often the horse de’ voures get set down & left, leaving chocolate & candies where a dog can have access to them as well. All of which can at worst lead to a trip to the emergency vet, & at best make your New Year’s Day clean-up much worse.
FIREWORKS: Like 4th of July many towns allow fireworks which can wreck havoc on many dogs’ nerves. If you have a dog that doesn’t’ enjoy Independence Day have a plan for the midnight hour. A crate in an interior room complete with some kind of white noise: a fan, a radio, a tv can all help drown out fireworks noise. Chewing reduces stress, so prepping your dog’s favorite kong, or buying a new favorite chew toy for end of year festivities is also a great plan. A big workout earlier in the day can also help your dog be fast asleep by midnight. Wishing everyone a safe & happy New Year!!
