Pets

What’s the problem?

Pets (including cats, dogs and birds) suffer from secondhand smoke too. Tobacco smoke increases pets’ risk of getting cancer, heart disease, respiratory infections such as chronic bronchitis, lung inflammation and asthma, and other illnesses. Pets also absorb dangerous chemicals when they groom themselves because the toxins from the tobacco smoke land on their fur.

How can we protect our pets?

• Make your home smokefree. Simply ask the smokers to go outside the house when they want a cigarette. Opening a window is not enough.
• Make your car smokefree. Let smokers have cigarette before you set off, and on longer journeys take smoking breaks to stop the temptation of lighting up inside the car. Alternatively, use nicotine patches and gums.
• Keep ashtrays clean – don’t leave butts in them for pets to find. Keep the ashtrays out of reach of pets and preferably outside.
• Consider quitting smoking - the health effects of your smoking on pets are just one more good reason to quit.

What will a smokefree home mean to my pet?

• Pets may be happier
• Pets will have fewer health problems
• Pets will be less likely to suffer from cancer
• Pets will smell better