As New Year’s Day nears, an animal welfare and environmental protection groups have renewed their appeal to revelers to shun firecrackers and fireworks as they cause adverse effects on animals aside from being harmful to human beings.
Experts noted that animals like cats and dogs with highly developed sense of hearing are restless due to the noise of the fireworks.
In a joint press statement, the Philippine Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) and the EcoWaste Coalition jointly pleaded to the public to keep the New Year’s Eve festivities safe and less stressful for cats and dogs.
“The loud bangs, booms, crackling noises and whistles from firecrackers and fireworks are distressing for cats and dogs who are gifted with highly sensitive hearing,” said Anna Cabrera PAWS Executive Director.
To promote a safe and less stressful New Year’s celebrations for cats and dogs, including aspins and puspins, PAWS and the EcoWaste Coalition urged animal-loving Filipinos to heed the following advice:
1. Sway members of your household and your neighborhood not to light firecrackers and fireworks.
2. Exercise pets in the morning so they will be tired by night time and hopefully, resting or fast asleep by the time the New Year’s revelry begins.
3. Keep pets inside during firecracker explosions or fireworks displays, but do not chain or tie them.
4. Provide a safe and secure space where pets can stay during the noisy revelry; close the windows and put the curtains down to block out the noise and any abrupt bursts of light.
5. Play soothing music or turn up the radio or TV to drown out the deafening bangs from firecrackers and fireworks.
6. Put a calming wrap or anxiety vest on pets to make them feel protected and secure.
7. Ensure pet’s access to drinking water, and make your pet pee or poo before the revelry starts.
8. Escape-proof your home to prevent pets from going outside during the festivities.
9. Do not drive stray cats and dogs away, give them food and water, and let them stay at least for the night.
10. To avoid choking, strangulation and poisoning incidents, keep shopping bags, cleaning solutions, tobacco products, alcoholic drinks, chocolate, fruit cake, and nuts out of pet’s reach. (Chito Chavez)
