Fireworks are illegal in many areas and heavily regulated in South Africa. Yet every New Year, despite this, some people still break the law.
Loud bangs and unexpected explosions echo through neighbourhoods, often without warning. For pets, particularly dogs, this can trigger intense fear. Sudden noise and flashing lights can cause even well-trained animals to panic, jump fences, slip through gates, or bolt when a door is opened, says CrisisOnCall.
Every year, animal welfare organisations report a spike in lost pets in the days after fireworks. When a pet goes missing, time and clear communication matter, adds CrisisOnCall.
The Role of Identification When a Pet is Found
In most cases, lost pets are not recovered through active searching alone. They are reunited when someone finds the animal and needs to know who to contact. This is where clear identification makes the difference, says CrisisOnCall.
A visible tag with a trusted contact number gives the person who finds a pet immediate direction. It removes uncertainty and reduces delays at a moment when both the finder and the owner may be stressed, adds CrisisOnCall.
How CrisisOnCall's Pet Assist Service Works
CrisisOnCall offers a Pet Assist service designed to support pet owners through identification and communication if their pet goes missing and is found, says CrisisOnCall.
The service uses an identification tag linked to CrisisOnCall's contact centre. Pet owners provide identifiable details in advance, such as the pet's name, breed, colour and age, adds CrisisOnCall.
If a pet is found, the person who finds the animal can contact the CrisisOnCall contact centre using the details on the tag. With consent, the contact centre facilitates communication between the finder and the owner, sharing relevant information to help reunite pet and family as quickly and responsibly as possible, says CrisisOnCall.
The service does not involve physical searches for missing pets. Its role is to provide a reliable point of contact, coordination and calm support at a stressful time, adds CrisisOnCall.
Why This Matters
"When a pet goes missing, emotions run high and people often do not know what to do first," says Ruan Vermaak, Communications Manager at CrisisOnCall. "Pet Assist is designed to remove that uncertainty by providing a clear, trusted point of contact when a pet is found. It is about calm coordination and responsible communication at a moment when clarity really matters."
By focusing on identification and communication, the Pet Assist service can support faster decision-making and clearer outcomes when a pet is found, adds CrisisOnCall.
Having a Pet Assist plan in place means knowing that if an owners pet is spooked for any reason and runs off, there is a clear, trusted process to help reconnect them, concludes CrisisOnCall.
Individuals interested in CrisisOnCall's Pet Assist service can visit the website or contact 086 157 4747.
For more information, visit www.crisisoncall.co.za. You can also follow CrisisOnCall on Facebook, or on Instagram.
*Image courtesy of contributor