Logan City’s Animal Management Centre has celebrated volunteers who help trained experts care for animals awaiting adoption.
Parks, animals, environment and waste chair Councillor Jennie Breene praised volunteers who included Di Aarons and Jennifer Ingram. The pair have volunteered at AMC since 2010 when the program launched. Both are proud their contributions provide unclaimed animals the best chance of finding new forever homes.
“They help feed, exercise and hydrobath the animals and provide basic training which ensures the animals can be returned to their owners happy and healthy, or new homes found for them,” Cr Breene said.
AMC workers used the presentation as an opportunity to offer advice as festive season gets into full swing, reminding pet owners to be prepared for fireworks and heatwave conditions.
The sound of fireworks can startle pets, particularly dogs, and they can also create a change in the air pressure which dogs can sense.
The loud noise can trigger anxiety in pets and sometimes prompt a natural ‘flight’ response.
If you are aware of fireworks being displayed in your neighbourhood, try these tips to prepare your pet:
- Keep your pet indoors in a secure area
- If you pet is crate trained, place them in it and reward them with their favourite treat
- Put on a TV or radio to mask the sounds
- Cover windows to help muffle the sound of the fireworks
- Provide sufficient bedding so your dog can burrow under it
- Take your dog for a walk beforehand to help tire them out
To ensure escaped pets are reunited with their owners as quickly as possible, please make sure your pet is wearing its collar, name tag and council issued registration tag.
A microchip is the quickest way to identify your pet and return them to you. If your pet is not yet microchipped, visit Council’s website for dates and locations of our 2019 Mobile Microchipping events.
The Animal Care Team also delivers a courtesy fireworks SMS alert to owners of registered pets (Council law requires all cats and dogs residing in the City to be registered).
Pet owners residing within close proximity to a registered firework event will receive a text message from the Animal Care Team by the morning of the event.
Council can only use phone numbers provided when you registered your pet so it’s important that you update your details if you’ve recently changed your mobile number.
As the days get hotter, it is also vital to watch for any signs of heat stroke, particularly for dogs.
Signs include rapid panting, weakness, a bright red tongue, diarrhoea, vomiting and a thick, sticky saliva.
If any of the above signs are evident immediate action is required, including:
- Moving your dog to a cool area
- Applying cool water over the dog’s coat
- Applying cool, damp towels to the dog’s head, neck and chest
- Giving small drinks of cool water
If symptoms persist, take your pet to the vet as soon as possible.
For more information on getting your pet through the summer and Christmas-New Year celebrations, or to register your pet and receive Council’s fireworks SMS alerts, call 3412 5397 or email amc@logan.qld.gov.au.
