With the arrival of December, we have entered the Christmas holiday season. As Christmas and New Year's Eve approach, a period begins when most pyrotechnic devices are brought out, meaning the lights of fireworks can color the sky and we can often hear the loud explosions of firecrackers, as well as other smaller pyrotechnic devices that produce light and sound effects may be used. This period poses an increased burden for our animals, cats, and dogs as well.
First, let’s see why they hate firecrackers and fireworks? Why is the louder noise-making a problem for us? Well, there is a scientific explanation for all this!
Dogs’ hearing is much more refined
Dogs are capable of hearing sounds that the human ear no longer perceives. Studies prove that they can excellently detect ultrasound with a frequency of 30,000 vibrations per second. This is why dogs can be terrified by firecrackers, fireworks, and louder sound effects! For some dogs, the sound caused by firecrackers is as intense as a bomb explosion is to the human ear.
Dogs with floppy ears are in a worse situation because they are more prone to various ear infections, making noises even more unbearable for them than usual. Dogs have a kind of survival instinct that enables them to hide their pain, so it is important to pay increased attention to our dogs’ physical condition. Another important fact is that fear is contagious, easily spreading from one dog to another, and even from humans to dogs!
A loud noise can startle the dog, causing it to flee and possibly injure itself
If a dog startled by firecrackers runs away, it doesn’t care what is in front of it, jumping over or trampling everything in its way, potentially injuring itself, or even becoming aggressive! Dogs under the pressure to escape cannot orient themselves properly, so we cannot expect them to find their way home on their own. Unfortunately, we often encounter frightened dogs that run away and roam the streets, sometimes causing traffic accidents, for which the owner is responsible by law, and many dogs become victims and get hit by cars during this period!
Take precautions so that the above does not happen!
- The primary and very important thing is the presence of a MICROCHIP in our pet and making sure it is registered under our name and address; otherwise, having a microchip is useless if it is not registered.
- During this period, always have a collar on your pet with a tag containing the owner’s phone number.
- Do not leave your dog outdoors if you know fireworks are planned nearby!
- Dogs prefer quiet, enclosed resting places; ensure that our dogs can stay in a safe place during the holidays, and if possible, do not leave our pets alone during this critical time!
If your pet escapes from home, here’s what you can do to find it as quickly as possible!
If despite all your precautions your pet still escapes, it is important to start searching immediately in the area where you live. However, keep in mind that a frightened animal can travel several tens of kilometers in a state of shock. If you don’t find your pet promptly, gradually expand the search area over time.
Report its disappearance and search for it with animal rescue organizations
The end of the year, New Year’s Eve, and the beginning of the new year always give a lot of work to animal rescue groups, as many dogs run away due to firecrackers and roam the streets of cities and villages. Unfortunately, a large portion of escaped animals during this time fall victim to traffic accidents or flee so far from home that they cannot find their way back.
During this time of the year, many civilian and official animal welfare groups are on call, trying to return captured animals home. Check social media as well; someone may have already found your beloved pet!
Owners of lost pets in Budapest should personally check the Animal Health Station of the Budapest Public Space Supervision (all information is below), and in the countryside, the territorially responsible (and operating in surrounding settlements) dog pounds, as stray animals are taken there from public areas. Information about the dog pounds is available from the notary’s office of the respective municipality.
Contact information for FŐRI
Information about dogs brought to the service can be continuously followed on the official website, and inquiries can also be made at 06 1 347 0830.
Fővárosi Közterület-felügyelet Állategészségügyi Szolgálat (Illatos út) official website>>
Official Facebook page>>
Reports about stray animals can be made every day of the week between 07:00 in the morning and 19:00 in the evening at the phone numbers +36 1 301 75 00 and +36 1 280 6832.
The address of the Animal Health Service: 1097 Budapest, Illatos út 23/A.
Lost/found dog reports are accepted at the following email address: illatosut@fori.hu
The Office opening hours are as follows:
• Monday to Saturday: between 10 and 15
• Sunday, public holidays: between 10 and 13
• no customer service on holidays
Contact details of the NOÉ Animal Shelter Foundation
In Budapest, the second most well-known Animal Protection Organization is the Noé Animal Shelter Foundation. Their animal rescue activists pay close attention and collect these stray animals. Their volunteers help dogs to get home all night and in the following days as well. They share reports on their official Facebook page, where every year they open a separate folder with photos of the stray, lost animals caught around the holidays. It's also worth looking there if your animal is lost!
If your animal disappeared, your dog or cat, or you found a stray animal, you can report it to the Noé Animal Shelter Foundation as follows:
petardazas@noeallatotthon.hu.
The sent email should, if possible, include the place and time of loss/finding, the animal’s breed, size, estimated age, gender, any special identifying marks, if any, whether it had a collar or tag on it, as well as the contact details of the person who lost/found it and a photo of the dog!
The NOÉ Animal Shelter has created some temporary quarantine places for dogs during this critical period who cannot be immediately returned home. Placement of dogs in distress on New Year’s Eve is ONLY POSSIBLE AFTER TELEPHONE ARRANGEMENT, depending on the available places!
Reports and arrangements are available on January 1, 2018 from 09:00 at the following phone numbers:
+36 30 221 12 99; +36 70 38 39 480.
Noé Állatotthon Alapítvány official website>>
Official Facebook page>>
Shelter location:
Budapest District XVII, Csordakút utca 138634/1 hrsz.
Holiday opening hours:
Closed on December 24, 25, and 26.
Open on December 27, Wednesday from 10:00 to 15:00.
Open on December 28, Thursday from 10:00 to 15:00.
Open on December 29, Friday from 10:00 to 15:00.
Open on December 30, Saturday from 10:00 to 15:00.
Closed on December 31, Sunday.
Open on January 1, 2018, Monday from 10:00 to 15:00.
Open on January 2, 2018, Tuesday from 10:00 to 15:00.
Contact details of the Animal Rescue Service
The Animal Rescue Service also actively works on rescuing animals during the holidays!
In Budapest Districts II, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, XI, XII, if you see an animal frightened by firecrackers or fireworks on New Year’s Eve, please report it to them at the following phone numbers:
- +36 20 263 5198
- +36 70 501 7142
- +36 30 325 6150.
Or at the following email address:
info@allatmentoszolgalat.com
Official website of the Animal Rescue Service>>.
Official Facebook page>>.
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