People love to celebrate, and fireworks are arguably an exuberant and festive expression of celebration, whether it’s New Year’s Eve, Guy Fawkes, Fourth of July (US), Chinese New Year, or the daily displays in Disney properties all over the world. However, the sound that these explosive displays emit causes incredible distress to countless animals.
According to Allan Perrins, Communications Officer for The Animal Welfare Society of South Africa (AWS) in an interview with IOL, he and members of the society were awake until after 1am on the day after Guy Fawkes ‘fielding calls from concerned members of the public, dealing with a host of animal-related inquiries and several injured animals. We are still dealing with the aftermath of what can best be described as a night of unruly chaos.’
Fireworks. Image credit: Roven Images
In a progressive move the Italian town of Collecchio, in the province of Parma, has introduced legislation to decrease the stress that fireworks inflict on pets and wildlife by insisting on silent fireworks in all displays.
Setti Fireworks, an Italian fireworks company which specialises in producing these customised silent explosives, deliver the same spectacular visual displays that you would expect from the more typical ear-splitting kind.
Fireworks Budapest, Hungary. Image credit: Zoltan Cse
It’s up to you to spread the word and put pressure on local municipalities that organise venues for annual Guy Fawkes displays to opt for silent fireworks instead and spare pets unnecessary trauma.
Fireworks. Image credit: Jamie Fenn
