As November progresses, with it comes the sound many fear. We are not talking about the bustle of the streets or the early chants, but about the noise that every year announces the season Fireworks and firecrackers. What some consider to be synonymous with celebration, for others translates into a long season of fear. Fireworks are a precursor to panic in many homes, and also in natural environments, as birds flee in terror on what should be calm nights.
Every year the warnings are repeated. Ethicists, veterinarians, the media, and animal welfare societies all issue the same recommendations: keep animals indoors, change the dog walking schedule, turn on the TV, and accompany them quietly. But, even though the routine seems set in stone, something is starting to change. After years of exposure and social pressure, noise is no longer accepted as an inevitable part of celebration. What was once a tradition is now seen as an avoidable gesture of insensitivity.
Invisible fear
The organization’s latest study Dogs trustthe UK’s largest dog grooming entity, shows by the numbers, where More than half of dogs (55%) show fear when they hear fireworks. The most common signs are whining, trembling, attempts to hide, or a sudden need to be close to the reference person. Some stop eating, others panic. Their hearing, which is four times more sensitive than human hearing, turns every explosion into a threat.
Paulina Badlo, Director of Communications at Dogs trustsums it up unequivocally: “It’s no surprise that dogs find the sudden, explosive noise of fires very annoying. One of the best things we can do is stay with them, offer them calm if they seek it, or let them hide if they need it.”
But it’s not just about momentary anxiety. Utrecht University, which surveyed more than 3,500 dog and cat caregivers, found that The effects of fear can last up to half an hour after the explosionwith more than half of the animals remaining in an altered state after that time. Not everyone recovers easily, with caregivers making an average of six to nine adjustments to their routine (from nutritional supplements to medications) to try to alleviate suffering, without lasting results.
Even more alarming is that fear of fires can alter physiological functions. The Dutch study describes the case of a dog that subsequently required veterinary attention Holding urine for hours To panic, go out into the street.
Noise that makes you sick
Fireworks and firecrackers don’t just hurt the ears. In humans, the effects are well known. the Young childrenthe People in the hospitalliving with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) Or suffer Homophobia also Hyperacusis They may experience anxiety attacks or physical pain when experiencing tantrums. Being exposed to such sudden sounds without warning breaks the feeling of environmental security.
On the other hand, the Wild animals And he doesn’t run away either. European weather radars show that on New Year’s Eve, the number of birds flying by the thousand can double compared to any other night of the year. GPS tracking shows that these emergency movements consume vital energy reserves, alter migration routes and increase the risk of collisions and disorientation. All this in an exercise that lasts a few minutes, but leaves effects that last for days.
A society tired of the noise
study Dogs trustIt is implemented in cooperation with a consulting company YouGovexpands the focus and reveals it 65% of British citizens support imposing stricter rules on the use of fireworks94% want the dates and times they can be released to be limited. 89% are directly committed to limiting it to licensed public events, and 37% favor banning it completely.
Numbers are not just statistics, but a reflection of social change. For decades, animals were the only ones who “had to adapt” to human traditions. Today, the question began in reverse. “Every year, we get calls from pet owners who see their animals hurting themselves trying to escape the noise,” explains Owen Sharpe, executive director of Animal Farming. Dogs trust“Not only do we see suffering in our shelters, but many people literally feel like prisoners in their own homes during those nights. Public support for a more humane organization has never been more evident.”
The organization insists that the matter is not about canceling the celebration, but rather about… Review the way we understand it. In the same way that we have already learned to limit the use of plastic or turn off excessive lights, noise is beginning to be seen as another form of pollution.
From complaint to action
While the UK encourages legislative debate in Spain Some communities are already working on their own. Given the geographical proximity of the two locations below, let’s take Asturias for example, where throughout this summer the introduction of acoustic sensitivity has begun to organize local festivals. In the Oviedo neighborhood of La Florida, organizers decided so Skip the fireworks As a sign of respect towards their human and non-human neighbors. In San Juan de la Arena, in Soto del Barco, a “Noise-free night in San Juan”no firecrackers or fireworks. In Aples, Llanera, the neighborhood association issued a notice Schedule details Set off fireworks and firecrackers so families with animals or sensitive people can protect themselves in advance.
Cities like Sydney, Toronto, and Rotterdam are experimenting with silence or… Drone offers Which combines light, color and musical synchronicity without causing suffering. Low-acoustic fireworks systems, which reduce noise by up to 60%, are beginning to establish themselves as a viable option also at local parties, where the budget is limited but the desire for respectability is growing.
In Italy, several regions have issued legislation in favor of these silent fires. In the Netherlands, citizen pressure restricted the sale of fireworks to the general public, and in the United Kingdom, Dogs trust I started a campaign for The government limits use For approved occasions and specific dates, in light of the results of your study.
Beyond dogs
Although dogs are the most visible face of the problem, they are not the only ones. Cats, according to the Utrecht University study, experience similar levels of stress, although caregivers ask for help less often. In rural areas, horses and livestock startled by explosions can also cause serious accidents. We insist on remembering that Urban animalsFrom birds to hedgehogs or bats, they suffer hard-to-quantify consequences in the form of collisions, offspring abandonment, egg membrane rupture, and disorientation.
Social awareness is increasing. In just one decade, we have moved from indifference to public debate, from regarding it as an established habit, to moral reasoning. What was once considered an inevitable part of folklore is today called into question as a form of mass unrest. Data Dogs trust Local examples seem to confirm this: Society begins to demand silence. Not as a censorship gesture, but as a gesture of sympathy.