How To Keep Your Pets Safe At Night

Keep your pets safe at night.

As we fall into Autumn, the nights begin to get darker. As we say farewell to our long summer evenings. But as the seasons change there is one thing that doesn’t. That is our love and responsibility to our pets. 

Dogs still need to get out for their evening walks. Cats still want to go on the prowl hunting and being the curious creatures that they are. And before our horses get turned in, it’s nice to explore the last of the dryer months. Before the cold Winter kicks in and they are stabled.

What can I do to help keep my pet safe during the darker months? 

With reduced visibility, taking your four-legged friends for their evening walks. Can put them at risk if you are not fully prepared. Especially on the roads. To help keep your pet safe at night. Make sure that drivers and cyclists can see your pets clearly is crucial.

These shorter evenings can also be easily put off. Because who really wants to go outside when it’s dark, cold and more than likely wet? As pet parents, it is our responsibility to get up and get outside. To ensure our dogs keep in a routine to prevent them from becoming inactive, overweight as well as depressed. 

Fortunately, we here at petplace have a huge selection of products to help keep your pets safe. Ensuring they are seen throughout the darker days. Whether you are walking on a dark country road where street lights are non-existent, poorly lit estates or in cities. When the darker evening combined with poor weather conditions can affect a driver’s vision it is best to be prepared. 

How to help my pet become more visible during the night. 

• Ancol has designed remarkable rechargeable flashing bands that can be clipped to your dog’s neck along with their collar. This is great for ensuring your dogs are seen when out and about through the darker months, helping keep your pets safe. They are available in a variety of eye-catching colours to keep your dog safe. 

• Trespaws if a glowing dog collar isn’t for you. Trespaws have created the Scooby Dog Collar. A softly padded collar with reflective strips. Which will help drivers, cyclists and other walkers to see your dog when light hits off the collar. This comes in bright red and is available in three different sizes leaving no dog out.

• Hemmo Dog & Co, their padded reflective lead in aqua will not only create awareness among drivers but also be strong, durable and comfortable to grip to hold resulting in a practical yet stylish reflective lead. 

• Weatherbeeta, it’s not just the darker nights we have to contend with in the UK, the grey cold weather, including the rain, is part of our Autumn/Winter package and Weatherbeeta has taken this into consideration. They have designed a reflective dog coat which will keep your four-legged friend nice and cosy as well as protect them from the rain whilst all the time making them highly visible to drivers and cyclists. 

• Orbiloc, these are high-quality LED safety lights that are great for keeping both you and your four-legged friends safe, even in the rain as they have been designed to be waterproof which is something we definitely need on those wet days. Easy to attach and remove, there couldn’t be an easier tool to help keep both you and your dog visible.

Keep your pets safe at night

When out walking with your four-legged best friend in the darker evenings, remember that it’s not just cyclists, motorbikes or car drivers you need to be aware of. There will be other people walking their dogs who perhaps aren’t quite used to the darker evenings, especially if they are a puppy and experiencing everything for the first time. 

If you do see another walker and their dog, there might be a few reasons why their dog may react to an approaching body. Seeing a dark figure advancing can be a little intimidating to us so imagine how that must feel for your four-legged family member or the other walker’s dog when walking with no warning light to highlight your oncoming presence, especially if either of the dogs is young, senior, anxious or deaf. Ensuring you can be seen should keep your pooch and others feeling safe and relaxed making your walk and theirs a bit more enjoyable. 

There are other things you can do to keep both you and your dog safe when walking in the darker evenings. 

As tempting as it is to throw on your favourite Winter colours to fit in with the season. Why not opt for some brighter shades when out walking your dog? This is a simple and effective way to make sure you are visible to road users. 

Don’t just put reflective wear on your dog, get some for yourself that way you will have double the protection. 

Carrying a torch will prevent your dog from walking on broken glass or anything else that may harm them. If you want to be overly cautious then why not invest in some dog-friendly booties? These will not only protect them from sharp objects. But also keep the icy weather, chemicals or road salt off their paws.

Avoid letting them off the lead because they may get spooked by sounds and movement. Everything will appear different in the dark and this may confuse them, causing fear and stress. A loose dog might run off and put themselves, you or others in danger. So to avoid this a lead kept on is the best option when walking your dog. 

Decide on a route and stick to it too, this will help when walking in the dark. You and your dog will become familiar with the sounds smells and other walkers who walk at this same time. This is another way to ensure your dog is calm and relaxed when having one of their daily walks. 

Avoid talking on the phone when walking your dog as this is a huge distraction. Talking to your dog and reassuring them will reduce their stress levels as well as encourage the bonding between you and your dog. 

Other pets that need to be seen at night

Dogs aren’t the only pets that may need help during the darker nights 

There is a difference between letting your cat out during the Spring & Summer months. To letting them out over Autumn & Winter. Unfortunately, during the darker months, there is an increase in injured cats from drivers on the road. If a cat just appears with no warning on a dark road. The chances of a driver seeing them in time are slim. Especially if the cat is black or has dark tiger-like markings. 

There are ways to help keep your cat safe at night which include investing in a Hi-Vis collar. Ancol has designed an adorable bright collar. Which is available in three different colours. This is perfect for the kitten in your life when they go outside for their evening toilet trip. A Hi-Vis collar will make it easier to see them if they decide they don’t want to come back indoors right away. 

Kitty & Co are suppliers of the stylish Polka Dot reflective cat collar which again is available in a variety of colours to help keep your pets safe and ensure your adult cat is visible in the dark.

If possible, encourage your cat to stay indoors during the night. Keeping them busy playing games to tire them out can help. If you can flip their routine to sleeping at night and exploring the outdoors in the daytime this would be safer. 

Microchipping both cats and dogs are great for locating a missing pet or those that might fall into any danger. 

This is the time of the year is when horses are stabled for the winter. Before this happens it’s great to get out and enjoy those last few evenings out and about with your horse. However, like cats and dogs, it is always beneficial to dress yourself and your horse in reflective wear. This will help them become more visible to road users and pedestrians. Especially dog walkers, because their dogs might react. Giving both your horse and themselves a fright which could result in injury. 

Last but not least are chickens. These are becoming an increasingly popular member of the family household and keeping them safe during autumn and winter should be at the top of your list. 

Sometimes chickens have a habit of wandering off. Which can sometimes take them to the road. Which is why GAUN has designed a Hi-Vis vest just for your hens. This will help keep them safe by allowing road users to see them should they venture towards a nearby road. 

These hi-vis vests will also mean when counting your hens in for the evening. They shouldn’t be too hard to find. These vests will not only protect them from traffic. But also keep them warm throughout the colder months when outside. As well as prevent them from pecking or being pecked by fellow chickens. 

As always, if you have any questions regarding products that will help keep your pets safe throughout the darker evenings, call one of our stores to speak with one of our team members or contact us via our website or any of our social media channels. Keeping your pet safe this Autumn and Winter is important to us.