Animal home urges owners to keep pets away from carnival

Gillian Rich, care manager at the Mayhew Animal Home, in Trenmar Gardens, has provided a rundown of the potential perils a dog may face.

-The levels of noise at an event like Notting Hill can place great levels of stress on an animal and they will not be able to escape to a quieter refuge, as the festival spans such a large area. Many dogs can experience anxiety attacks in large crowds, made worse by hearing the unusual and unexpected loud noises.

-The amount of people at an event like the carnival will also be incredibly stressful and confusing for any dog, regardless of their size, as they have to negotiate the crowd. And of course there is the chance they will get trodden on, or kicked.

-The amount of litter on the ground can present many potential dangers for a dog, including broken bottles which could cause them injury.

-Left over food on the ground will also be far too much of a distraction for many dogs and litter such as chicken bones can choke and kill a dog if they are gobbled up too quickly.

-Last year saw several incidences of dog fighting at the Carnival and although you may be a responsible owner, there are others who may not be as vigilant and you may find aggressive confrontations between dogs at the event.

Gillian Rich also reminded residents to take care of their feline friends and keep them in for the duration of the carnival.

She said: "It is essential to keep your pet inside as there are many dangers for a cat during carnival, including increased traffic, fireworks and litter.

"Keep them in and keep them safe!"

The Notting Hill Carnival will be held on Sunday and Monday, through the streets of Notting Hill and North Paddington.