Supporting our Pets during New Year's Eve celebration

An old celebration

Since I was a little girl, I've only known the New Year's Eve celebration to be one of abundant food, multiple round fruits and noise. Noise from fireworks and noise from karaoke.

My mother would go shopping for multiple small round fruits on or before Dec 31. My uncles and aunts would be so consumed by prepping fireworks to be positioned at the topmost part of the gates. I was the eldest of all the cousins. Us kids will be handed with sparklers that usually lasted only up to 3 minutes. That was more than enough fun for us.

In the evening of Dec 31, after the food is prepped on the round table, each family will have had dinner before we go out around 10:30pm and start gathering as one extended family. My uncles and aunts would coax the cousins to jump at exactly midnight. Loud dance music would be playing.

Fireworks was the highlight of the evening. The whole street we were on would start blasting their own set of fireworks and it would usually last until around 3AM.

My favorite is January 1's morning. Because I am a very conscientious kid, I'd wake up early and sweep. The whole ground is covered with papers and ash from the fireworks spent last night.

In hindsight, where was our dog then? Where were the cats that my aunt would feed? They're nowhere to be found. They'd show up again maybe after a day or two.

The new Eve celebration

Being spiritual has changed me a lot. It's not in the superstition and hoops that I had to jump through that I have experienced the liberation of each new year unfolding.

I realized that the people who live in a household is what holds the best energy to keep the household in good state throughout the New Year. Energy is everything. If there is friction, there is stale energy that is dry and can spark anger. The key is to make tidy the house and get rid of negative energy.

My cats

I used to pity my cats each New Year. The loud sound makes them inconsolable. I couldn't have a quiet eve with them because they'd be shuffled in some dark spot of the house that I couldn't even reach. They can't eat because they're stressed out from the loud noises. This isn't the fun I would like for my family during New Year's Eve.

When we "observe" the superstitions of opening all doors and windows, I'd have to stand watch and make sure they won't scurry out of the windows. It has all become too stressful for all of us.

What to do instead?

If you have a big dog, and you don't have a big cage for them inside the house, consider holing up inside an enclosed bathroom. You can prepare a blanket or mat on the floor, move their favorite bedding there and bring your devices so you can hang out until the fireworks noise is over.

This also works if you have multiple cats. The walls of the bathroom will do a good job to muffle the noise outside, plus the enclosed space will provide them a safe space so they don't get rattled outside.

Pick a smaller room inside your house and make it cozy. Tone down the lights, close the windows and doors and maybe set a calm music.

If you have a big cage, cover it with a blanket or bed cover. It will provide a great hiding place for the cats and smaller dogs. Or, even small enclosures with a head covering can be a safe space.

I've seen this suggested by big fits of animal rescuers. They said to use a blanket to wrap your pet in a burrito form. I don't recommend this. Your pet may experience more trauma when you do this and there are alarming noise/sounds outside. Consider their feelings when they're immobile and they feel like the whole world is falling apart. If you've done this before (also for New Year's Eve), and your pet has responded well then go ahead and do this with them; but I don't recommend doing this for the first time for the New Year's Eve celebration.

Avoid constant petting. When you can't keep your hands off them just because they show fear, that will give them the idea that you prefer them in a scared state. Show them that there's nothing to be afraid of. You may console them with your words and show them that you aren't afraid. They'll take cue from your body language and understand that all is well.

Use small spaces available to you. I used to clear out a space inside my closet for each one of them. They can stay here while I keep the door ajar.

Remember not to sacrifice the peace of all the family members just to celebrate the New Year for a few hours. Find the meaning in the New Year's Eve celebration that gives you peace and removes stress. There is no amount of superstition to remove bad luck if there is no harmony at home. Let pre-Day 1 and Day 1 be done right by everyone's energy.

Don't forget your pets while celebrating 💜 Enjoy an abundant, prosperous and joyous New Year!