As Halloween approaches, a charity has said the impact of fireworks on guide dogs has led to some having to retire.
The Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind said fireworks can be extremely distressing for all animals, but particularly working dogs such as guide dogs and assistance dogs.
The charity supports those who are vision impaired as well as the families of children with autism.
Ulla Quayle's guide dog Sage had to retire in 2020, aged just four, due to the stress caused by fireworks.
She said she would have expected to have six more "wonderful years with this amazing dog", but she suffered severe trauma from fireworks and was never the same dog afterwards
"She was terrified to leave the house which broke all our hearts as she was a much-loved family member."
Sage even became terrified of doors shutting, but despite help from the charity's trainers she was not able to overcome her fear of noises.
She was retired to a family in Kerry where "she is living out her life in peace", Ms Quayle said.
Irish Guide Dogs for the Blind CEO Tim O'Mahony said this situation is not uncommon and not only "is the impact on the dog heartbreaking, but it's devastating for the owner who must wait to be matched with another dog which can take many months."
He said that during that time, the independence and mobility which the person previously enjoyed is hugely curtailed or completely taken away.
Mr O'Mahony explained: "If a dog has an experience which goes beyond a normal level of stress, such as a firework exploding close to them, this can overly sensitise the dog, similar to PTSD in humans.
"Whilst most dogs can recover, some will overreact to unexpected noise which manifests as a fear reaction. Every Halloween our teams support a number of our clients whose dogs have been adversely impacted by fireworks."
The charity has some tips on how to protect your dog over the Halloween period
Dogs do not like fireworks, so ensure to get plenty of exercise before dark - ideally during school hours or at mealtimes. This will minimise the exposure and tire the dog so that they will be more relaxed and more likely to sleep through the evening.
After dark dogs should be kept indoors as much as possible.
Confine pets to the general living areas rather than quieter areas such as hallways or bedrooms.
Leave the radio and TV on to drown out some of the external noises. Pull your curtains to help reduce visual exposure to fireworks.
Do not scold or fuss over a nervous dog as this only exacerbates the situation and can reinforce the behaviour.
If a dog is particularly stressed, they can be treated with natural remedies available from vets and pharmacies.
Remember, no tricks and no treats for your dog. Chocolate is not safe for your pet so do not share any with the dogs.
