Encinitas, CA — It only happens twice a year, but the switch to Daylight Saving Time in the Spring and back to Standard Time in the Fall can really confuse our pets. Rancho Coastal Humane Society (RCHS) reminds animal lovers that a little patience goes a long way in helping pets make the adjustment.
“The time change can be really hard for pets and their people.” RCHS spokesman John Van Zante says, “Animal shelters, veterinarians, and behaviorists get calls from people saying their dogs and cats don’t want to eat or they eat constantly. Some pets seem to sleep all the time. Others are awake and doing ‘Zoomies’ at 3:00 in the morning.”
Pets usually adjust to the schedules of their owners. They get up about the time when we get up and go to sleep around the time when we go to bed. Pets love having a routine. They like being fed at about the same time every day. They understand when it gets light and dark and adjust their lives accordingly.
Van Zante says, “Just like humans, animals have internal clocks that tell them when to eat, sleep and wake up. But pets are more likely to rely on natural sunlight while humans are more likely to use artificial lighting.”
Animals that live with humans develop routines related to human activity. This might be dogs who are walked at the same time or cats who get fed at the same time every day.
“When humans switch to DST or back to Standard time, we adjust our routines with the clock. Pets don’t know what’s happening. To us, it seems like the animals are behaving oddly. It’s actually us behaving oddly. And we can’t explain it to them.”
When you “Fall Back” and set your clock back an hour this weekend, remember that your pets need a little paw-holding during the time change. If you can make a gradual change, that’s great. But, since that’s not possible for everyone, be patient and give your pets lots of reassurance that everything is okay.
For more information visit about pet adoption and other services for people and animals visit Rancho Coastal Humane Society in Encinitas or log on to www.sdpets.org.
Kennels, cattery, and rabbitat are open Friday through Monday from 11 AM to 4 PM and Wednesday and Thursday by appointment.
