AS Bonfire Night approaches, please do remember that while some people enjoy fireworks, animals don't and can become terrified when fireworks are let off.

They have excellent hearing and loud bangs and whistles can cause them pain and distress resulting in panic, running away and getting lost or injured.

As responsible pet owners, we need to keep our pets safe, which means keeping them indoors whenever fireworks are being let off and for someone to stay at home with them. Close all the curtains and turn on the radio or television to deaden the noise. Never shout at your pet if it is frightened as you will only make it more stressed. Ignore your pet if it paces round or whines as reassurance will only make it think there really is something to worry about. Stay calm and happy yourself and praise your pet when it is calm.

Whist it is essential to keep our cats and dogs indoors, let us not forget the smaller animals that are often kept in hutches outdoors. They get frightened too. Rabbits, guinea-pigs and ferrets need special care as they may easily die of heart attack when fireworks are let off.

Hutches and enclosures should be brought into a cool, quiet room indoors or into a shed or garage. Give them extra bedding to burrow into so they feel safe. If it is not possible to bring their hutch inside, turn it round so it faces a wall or fence and cover it with a thick blanket to block out the light from the fireworks and deaden the sound of bangs. But please make sure there is enough ventilation and keep a check that no spent fireworks have landed on their hutch to smoulder and set fire to it.

With thought and consideration, your pets should remain safe and not too stressed out through the celebration.

Josephine Harwood, Moor Park Avenue, Blackpool