As Bonfire Night and the festive season approach, the sounds and sights of fireworks can bring excitement—but also anxiety—for both people and pets. If you or your furry friend are dreading the fireworks displays, here are some tips to help you manage stress and stay calm through the season.
- Keep breathing
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- Simple breathing techniques – long, slow breaths – help reduce your heart rate and can calm you down. Below, we’ve included links to some breathing exercises we think may help.
- Limit triggers
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- You can reduce or limit stress by wearing headphones – especially noise-cancelling ones – or ear defenders, which can help reduce the impact of loud explosions. You can also close windows and draw curtains to muffle sound and block our bright light flashes. This will be helpful for you and for any pets you have. You may also find it useful to play some white noises or music to drown-out the noise. Below we’ve included some links to white noises.
3. Calming Supplements For Pets.
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- It can sometimes be useful to give pets calming supplements to help reduce anxiety and stress related to fireworks. We have made such supplements available to those residents who may find it useful for their pets. You can pick up a maximum of three capsules from the QPCC Office between 10am Monday 4th and 3pm Tuesday 5th Please email us (info@queensparkcommunitycouncil.gov.uk) in advance so we can confirm that there are still supplies available.
- Adapt your routine as needed.
- For pets, following a regular routine can be calming. But it might help to adjust it during the Fireworks Display. You could consider taking your evening dog walk earlier or later than usual to avoid the fireworks times. Flexibility in routine can make the evening more manageable while keeping some sense of normalcy.
- Connect with your loved ones.
- It’s always good to connect with your loved ones – even something as simple as a phone call with a friend or relative while there are loud noises outside can help reduce stress and distract you. If possible, you could even visit a friend or relative’s home in a quieter area to avoid immediate triggers like noise or flashing lights.
- Stay Moving!
- Doing some exercise—sit-ups, press-ups, squats, dance, yoga, or using exercise equipment you may have at home—is a great way to distract yourself and reduce anxiety.
- Remember—it will all be over soon.
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- You’re not alone in feeling anxious during this time, and with a little preparation, you and your pets can find ways to feel safe and calm.