With the solar eclipse only a few days away, millions of people are eagerly waiting to view the celestial event. However, for pet owners, that excitement may also come with concerns over the safety of their furry friends.
The good news? By nature, our pets aren’t stargazers.
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While pets may like to soak up the sun and be lazy like their humans, they aren’t inclined to stare at it. News4JAX asked Dr. Christian Broadhurst with the Clay County Humane Society how pet owners can protect their pets’ precious eyes.
“Well, luckily our pets are generally smarter than we are and don’t tend to stare directly at the sun,” Broadhurst said.
Broadhurst did say, however, that there are a couple of things that pet owners should consider and be cautious of during a celestial event like this.
“Animals are very tightly tuned to the day and night cycles and having nighttime appear in the middle of the day might be distressing to them,” Broadhurst said.
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Broadhurst also said if you’re traveling to view the total solar eclipse, it is better to not take your pets with you, as large crowds can cause distress. He also recommended leaving your pets, if possible, inside during the eclipse, which will begin around 1:47 p.m. and end at 4:19 p.m.
Remember, do not look directly at the sun without eclipse glasses.
Click here to learn how you can tell if your eclipse glasses are safe.