The Folly of Fireworks
- Mary Malucci
- May 7, 2024
- 4 min read
Updated: Dec 24, 2024
Celebratory fireworks displays have been a human tradition for millenia. In recent decades, animal lovers have become more aware of the devastating effects the loud noises and bright lights have on pets, wildlife and sensitive people.
With Memorial Day only three weeks away, we should all be aware that the people most adversely affected by fireworks are veterans and refugees. For these folks, it’s like being in a war all over again. People without wartime experiences can still be at risk from toxic chemicals like ozone, sulfur dioxide and nitric oxide and smoke pollution released by fireworks.
All life is at risk from the wildfires started by fireworks displays. In 2018 alone, fireworks started nearly 20,000 blazes that killed 5 people and injured dozens more, destroying communities, forests and uncountable numbers of non-human lifeforms.
Wild animals will panic and try to run from the disturbance, often getting injured or killed in the process. Whole flocks of birds resting nearby will often flee into the night sky, where they are disoriented by lingering smoke and exposed to toxic chemicals. Fear makes the birds fly higher and longer than usual, burning up vital energy reserves. Predatory birds, like bald eagles, interpret fireworks as a threat and may abandon their nests or habitats entirely. Many birds get lost and disoriented, falling out of the sky by the thousands. In urban areas, many birds crash into buildings. Some frightened birds will fly so far out to sea, they don’t have the energy to get back to shore. When parent birds and squirrels are frightened away from their nests and cannot find their way back, the babies die of dehydration or starvation. In addition to smoke and chemical pollution, fireworks displays often leave behind litter that can be mistakenly eaten by wildlife or pets.
The effects of fireworks displays are just as devastating for our cats, dogs and horses. Horses will panic and bolt, often charging through fences and getting injured or killed. Driven by fear, dogs and cats will often run away from what’s familiar and become lost, injured or killed. Some pets, if they feel trapped and cannot get away from the noise and flashing lights, will hurt themselves in their panic.
Signs that your pet is terrified by fireworks include violent shaking or trembling and excessive drooling, barking or howling. Frightened pets may try to hide, sometimes in unusual spots. Some scared pets will try to get into or out of the house, fence or other enclosure where they are usually comfortable. Many pets will refuse to eat their food, even their favorite treats. Some pets may urinate or defecate inappropriately or develop diarrhea from the prolonged stress.
Even if you don’t think your pet is sensitive to fireworks, it’s always best to be prepared. Stoic pets have been known to become more sensitive as they get older.
Before the fireworks begin, take some time to determine how best to keep your pets safe. Examine your environment to find the safest place to secure your pets and livestock and make improvements if needed. Make sure your pets have ID tags with current information. Microchips will help pets find their way home even if they lose their ID tags. Keep your contact info current in the microchip registry. Take a current photo of all your pets. If your pet has a history of anxious or fearful behavior, talk to your veterinarian about behavioral therapy or medications. Walk dogs outside beforehand because many fearful dogs will not go outside during the commotion. If you must walk your dog during the fireworks, have him or her securely leashed so they can’t bolt.
During the fireworks, confine dogs and cats indoors in an escape proof room or crate that has been thoroughly examined to avoid the possibility of injury. Close windows and cover with curtains or blinds. Play music or leave a TV on for white noise. If your pet is fearful enough to require medication, have someone trustworthy stay at home to monitor them. Treat toys filled with a favorite food can help distract nervous dogs. Cats like small dark hiding places. Horses and livestock should be housed in safely fenced areas as far from the excitement and noise as possible.
Do NOT bring your dog along to the party and think it will be okay to lock him in the car while the fireworks are going off. If your dog doesn't injure itself trying to break out of the car, it may succumb to heat stroke. Cars heat up quickly in warm weather, even parked in the shade, with interior temperatures rising 20 degrees in less than ten minutes and becoming fatal in less than an hour.
If the fireworks are over and, despite your precautions, one of your pets has gotten lost, don’t panic. Search your property thoroughly. Try to attract your pet by leaving food and water outside with your pet’s bed and a worn article of your clothing. Reach out to local shelters and call the microchip registry. Use the photo you took beforehand to register your pet with Petco Love Lost at https://lost.petcolove.org/. This is a national lost/found pet tool that uses patented facial recognition technology to reunite pets and families.
Lastly, thoroughly check your yard and pastures for fireworks debris and food scraps or related debris like wooden skewers that may be dangerous to pets.
As humankind becomes more aware of the impact of fireworks displays on domestic and wild animals, alternatives are being explored. In 2018, the Italian town of Collecchio was the first in the world to feature “silent” fireworks. They aren’t completely noiseless but are significantly less noisy than traditional fireworks. Some communities, like Banff in Alberta, Canada are suspending their fireworks displays due to the possibility of a “high-risk” fire season developing this summer. The City of Banff also says they want to “review the impacts of noise and light flashes on wildlife and the secondary impacts on pets and people in the community”. Laser shows can be as delightful as fireworks but are less harmful to wildlife and less polluting to the environment. Drone displays, like the one that opened the 2021 Tokyo Olympics, are another safer alternative.
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