Firework Phobias
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With the days drawing shorter our thoughts will be drawn to autumn and all that it brings. For some and their animals this will involve the dreadful experience of fireworks and bonfire night. Now is the ideal time to prepare for the firework season, as there are a number of measures which can help your animal through the period. Advice on preparing your animal can be found at www.petfireworkfear.co.uk. For dogs and cats pheromone diffusers such as DAP or Feliway can help reduce anxiety; these are available from your vet. Closer to the firework season keep pets indoors during the evenings. Closing curtains and having music or the TV on will provide some distraction. A quiet place such as a pet carrier may provide your dog or cat with a sense of security and comfort. The tendency to comfort or reassure our animals when they are distressed is understandable but will not help the problem. It may reinforce their fear. Hard though it is, ignoring your dog or cat if they are scared will help. Let them hide away and reward them when they are recovered. If you must be outside, keep the animal on a lead at all times and away from bonfires and fireworks. Always make sure your dog or cat has proper identification in case he or she escapes. Talk to your vet about having your pet micro chipped if they are not already. Smaller pets such as guinea pigs or rabbits can be temporarily moved into a garage, or turned to face a wall or the hutch can be covered to reduce sound impact. In some cases of noise phobias, medication may be prescribed by your vet. The most common type will be used in the short term to block the animal’s memory of an event so that the associated fearful behaviour does not worsen. These measures will help your pet cope this year, but for dogs with firework fear working through a desensitisation and counter conditioning programme using recordings of fireworks could prevent problems in the future. This programme is best worked through away from the firework season so ask your vet about ‘Sounds Scary’ CDs and start work in January.
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Council and Police take more strides in fight against crime
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Babergh District Council and Suffolk Police have joined forces to ensure one of its key market towns stays one of the safest places to live in the country. Statistics show that residents in Hadleigh have a very little chance of ever being the victim of crime. Babergh District Council and Suffolk Police want it to stay that way. A new initiative for the town demonstrates this determination to make sure everything possible is done to make the area even better. Every year, Babergh and its Police colleagues look at all the reports of crime and other feedback from the community, including the public meetings organised by the Safer Neighbourhood Team, to decide on the important issues for the local area. Over the past few years one of the main things that has been regularly identified as an issue is the connection between the irresponsible use of alcohol, crime and anti-social behaviour. A variety of action has been put in place, including more effective use of the town centre CCTV system, targeted patrols and joint action between Police and Babergh's licensing officers. This has meant year on year reductions in incidents associated with irresponsible alcohol use. In order to make even more progress, Babergh, supported by the Police, is considering making Hadleigh a Designated Public Place. This would mean that Police would have more powers to deal with irresponsible alcohol use. Paul Little, Babergh's officer in charge of the project, said: “This project illustrates Babergh and the Police's determination to do everything we can to reduce our already low crime levels even further. "A Designated Public Place Order (DPPO) would mean that those involved in being disorderly can be prevented from drinking in public places. "We know that the use of alcohol is a key factor in this sort of behaviour and that this causes problems for residents. "The power would only be used to combat crime or anti-social behaviour and is not a blanket ban. We think this strikes the right balance between efforts to maintain order and the rights of residents." Insp. Paul Crick, of Suffolk Police, added: “We have been working with Babergh on the possibility of a DPPO and we both feel it is a useful additional tool to help us reduce crime and anti-social behaviour even further. "Hadleigh is a peaceful town, but, like other places, there can be disorderly incidents that really affect resident’s rights to peacefully enjoy their homes and their town. "We know from experience and from the statistics that the misuse of alcohol often plays a part and this additional power will help us deal with and prevent these sorts of issues." Babergh District Council is consulting on the proposal with a range of people and groups, the most important group being the people of Hadleigh. If you are a resident of Hadleigh you can find out more detail and have your say by visiting our web-site and completing the consultation questionnaire at www.babergh.gov.uk/dppo-hadleigh.
www.hadleighcommunitynews.co.uk
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