Abstract:
The next few months will be filled with festivities. Fireworks will be used in an array of cultural celebrations and people will be going away for the December holiday. During this time, veterinary practices, the SPCA and animal shelters are usually overrun by lost animals. Many cats and dogs are severely injured trying to escape the noise of fireworks. Dr Quixi Sonntag, veterinarian and animal behaviourist at the University of Pretoria’s Faculty of Veterinary Science, knows this trend all too well. She calls on all pet owners to act responsibly and ensure their pets are properly cared for.