Original Article: https://blog.theanimalrescuesite.greatergood.com/new-years-fireworks-pet-safety/

Animal charities around the world are looking forward to the New Year, just like the rest of us.

The difference is, they are concerned about our furry friends while the rest of us are concerned about bringing in the New Year’s with a bang.

Many people will be celebrating New Year’s Eve with fireworks. This can be a fun way to welcome in the year, provided you aren’t a dog or cat that panics when the fireworks start going off.

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Photo: Pixabay/nancy sticke

Since October, the RSPCA has fielded more than 10,000 complaints about fireworks. It got that many complaints because there is a webpage that allows for online reporting. As a result of the information they received, they discover that 96% of those who responded said when the neighbors set off fireworks without warning, their animals were fearful.

Many issues can result from lighting off fireworks when animals are nearby. It can do more than frighten them, they may run away and can be injured or killed in the process.

In an interview with BBC News, the RSPCA and Cheltenham Animal Shelter spoke about the difficulties in recent years because of the closure of many public events.

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Photo: Pixabay/Heiko Stein

Coronavirus restrictions have made people stay at home, so they are trying to make the best of it with their own fireworks shows.

An animal behaviorist for the Cheltenham Animal Shelter, Rosie Taylor-Trigg, said that fireworks to an animal are similar to us being in a war zone. Even if a single display at a single household doesn’t seem like it would be a problem, there are hundreds of other households that feel the same way. That is why it can be a problem.

In order to help keep the animals in the neighborhood safe, it is best to either look for a low noise option to celebrate New Year’s or let your neighbors know about your plans ahead of time. Check out the tips in the tweet below:

Source: The Animal Rescue Site Blog