With the arrival of December comes gunpowder season, one of the most sensitive times of the year for pets. Although the Cali Mayor’s Office, led by Alejandro Eder, insists on the need to abandon this practice, the truth is that behaviors that directly affect dogs, cats and other noise-sensitive species still persist.
For this reason, the District Administration, through the Special Administrative Unit for Animal Protection (Uaepa) and its Animal Welfare Center (CBA), advance preventive recommendations focused on the advance preparation of Cali homes, with a view to reducing the emotional and physical impact that gunpowder can generate.
Veterinary doctor and zootechnician Valentina Salazar, CBA professional, shared a series of recommendations that should be started days before the most common outbreaks. Its call is clear: prevention is the most powerful tool to protect pets and avoid anxiety crises, losses and accidents.
Previous recommendations
| “During gunpowder seasons, the first thing is to try to ensure that they have a warm place where they are safe, away from windows or places that may suddenly expose them to trauma.”
| “Second, try to play music for them days before. On the Internet we can also find sounds of gunpowder, so that they assimilate and can be calm when they hear them much louder.”
| “Third, try to get a lot of exercise these days: walks and have toys for them so they can be distracted and occupy their minds with something much more fun.”
| “And fourth, we can use homeopathic medications to help them with anxiety. Any type of anesthetic is not recommended, as it can be harmful to them. With the help of your veterinarian, you can guide yourself so that you know what medication to give and in what dose.”
During the gunpowder: measures that can make a difference
The CBA professional emphasizes that these recommendations work best when applied in advance, because once the gunpowder action begins, the stimulus is intense and inevitable.
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“These tips are important before the stimulus of gunpowder, which is inevitable, because unfortunately that culture still exists and it is very difficult to eradicate it,” he expressed.
What to do in the moments of greatest noise?
Play relaxing music (classical or ambient).
Take walks only during the day.
Keep toys or activities that help reduce your pet’s anxiety.
“In addition, a fundamental point in case of loss is to make permanent use of a plate that allows them to be easily identified,” said Valentina Salazar.
Protecting our pets by avoiding their suffering and promoting safe practices is part of Mayor Alejandro Eder’s vision with which, step by step, we are recovering Cali.
Together we can make this Christmas more calm, conscious and kind to the ‘furries’ in the ‘Peaceful and Biodiverse Capital of Colombia’.