For many, Halloween is a fun time for candy, costumes and fireworks. For animals, however, it’s one of the most frightful nights of the year — and not because of any ghosts or goblins.
Exploding fireworks, especially firecrackers, can be terrifying for pets, farmed animals and wildlife. Research has suggested, for instance, that nearly half of dogs are fearful of loud noises such as fireworks, thunderstorms and gunshots, while almost 80 per cent of horses show anxious behaviour during fireworks displays. Fireworks are creating serious issues for animals in our communities.
“I don’t think people realize the trauma surrounding fireworks for animals,” says ACO Atyeo, night emergency officer at the BC SPCA in Vancouver. “On nights when there are fireworks, the call load is always worse. The animals are frantic and once an animal is frightened and running, they are almost impossible to catch.”
Atyeo works for the BC SPCA’s Night Emergency Patrol (NEP), a program designed by the organization to facilitate assistance to injured animals after-hours.
She estimates that she receives upwards of 30 to 50 calls on Halloween night, the majority directly related to the effects of fireworks. However, due to public awareness through education and many cities in the Lower Mainland taking the initiative to control the use of fireworks, those numbers are starting to decline. This has been a relief to NEP Officers, pet owners, and wildlife advocates.
“On Halloween, people are on high alert and very emotional when they call in. Calls come in rapidly,” she says. “Most of the calls involve a high number of animals who are hit by cars.”
Atyeo says she receives many calls from people out on a walk with their dogs on Halloween night, only to have them bolt due to the sound of fireworks. Other calls Atyeo receives on Halloween include lost dogs and cats who ran off or broke through a fence or window because fireworks spooked them. The owners will call in for help and often say, “my dog never leaves the yard” or “they broke through a hole in the fence.” Pet owners can sometimes underestimate what a scared or frantic animal will do trying to escape perceived dangers.
One story in particular on Halloween has stayed with Ateyo throughout the years.
“I answered a call in the city of Burnaby about a dog who was hit by a car on a busy road,” she recalls. “It felt like I was in a war zone. It was black, raining, and I was outside of a park where fireworks were going off like crazy, and it was so chaotic and intense. The dog was just lying there, her back was broken, and I could see the terror in her eyes. She was in pain, and she couldn’t move, and there were explosions from the fireworks everywhere. It was terrifying for both her and me.”
She also attends numerous calls for wild animals who are either injured from fleeing the noise and lights of the fireworks or behaving in unusual ways. Instances include raccoons, skunks, and birds trying to get inside a house or underneath a deck to seek safety.
Atyeo’s experience with wildlife falls in line with recent research that has shown that evenings of fireworks can have a negative impact on bird behaviour. Birds and other wild animals can be scared out of dens and roosting sites, leading them to fly into buildings or run into busy streets to be injured or killed.
To keep your pets safe on Halloween, it’s important to remember the following when you know that fireworks are occurring within your neighbourhood:
- Ensure your pet has at least two forms of identification in case they go missing. Pets should have a collar with tags and an ear tattoo or a microchip registered with the BC Pet Registry.
- Keep your pet indoors. Be mindful when you’re opening the door to hand out candy, as your pet may try to escape. A lot of calls to the BC SPCA’s NEP are because a dog or cat has slipped past their guardian to escape through an open door.
- If you must take your dog outside to relieve themselves, make sure they are wearing a collar and tags, with a leash attached to a harness if your dog is comfortable wearing one. Hold tight to the leash, even in your backyard, to prevent them from bolting.
It’s important to be there for your furry friends and keep them safe. “It starts with community members speaking out to their local city representatives and requesting that firework distribution and enforcement changes be made. Most importantly, please stay home with your pets on Halloween whenever possible,” says Atyeo. “Support them, comfort them. They are scared. ”
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