If the sale of firecrackers and rockets is allowed, the banging is usually done before December 31st. In order to prepare the dog or cat for loud rockets and the bang of firecrackers, you can play fireworks videos or sounds from time to time days before the turn of the year and slowly get the animals used to the noise. «In the case of animals that are particularly sensitive to noise, you should start with a tentative sonication weeks before New Year’s Eve and then slowly increase it. With luck, a kind of habituation effect can set in over time,” says Karina Omelyanovskaya.
On New Year’s Eve, dog owners should walk the dog in uninhabited areas if possible. «It’s best to start walking before sunset, because the first firecrackers and rockets are often ignited when it gets dark,» says the expert. “A tired dog reacts less stressed. That’s why you should always include small play units in the walk. It’s also great when the dog can let off steam with other dogs.”
Attention: Even if your own dog is not very skittish, it should definitely be leashed. «Even a relaxed dog can be startled by a bright flash of light or a loud bang and run away in panic – in the worst case from a car. That’s why you shouldn’t take any unnecessary risks and put your four-legged friend on a leash. The dog should also have a tag with the contact details of the owner or a pet registry and be chipped by now at the latest. If the animal manages to run away despite being on a leash, the microchip can help to bring the dog back to its owner” said Karina Omelyanovskaya.
Back home, you can keep the dog busy with chew toys in the evening. TV or radio provide background noise and distract a little. «So that the cat or dog is not startled by the flashing lightning and explosions, you should close the windows well, draw the curtains or lower the blinds,» recommends the expert.
Not only dogs, but also free-roaming cats should stay indoors at the turn of the year. Especially at midnight, the sounds of firecrackers and explosions often come from all directions. “Cats and dogs could run in front of a moving car, bus or train. That’s why you should be on the safe side and even leave people who are out on New Year’s Eve in the house,» says the expert.
Many people want to spend the turn of the year with their loved ones – and for many that includes their own pet. However, appeals not to take your dog to a public New Year’s Eve event. “People, dense crowds and fireworks that last for minutes are not a suitable environment for a dog. You’re not doing your animal any favors with that,” warns Karina Omelyanovskaya.
Not only dogs and cats, but also small mammals such as rabbits, guinea pigs or hamsters can react to fireworks with heart palpitations and fear. expert Omelyanovskaya asks that animals kept outside be protected from noise and flashing lights: “Rabbits are prey animals. New Year’s Eve is often an ordeal for them.»
In order to guarantee a stress-free turn of the year for all animals, the action alliance of the German Environmental Aid (DUH), together with the global animal welfare foundation and the German Animal Welfare Office, PETA Germany, calls for TASSO, the Jane Goodall Institute Germany, the German Animal Welfare Association and the Federal Association of the doctors of the public health service a private firecracker ban for New Year’s Eve. In an open letter, the members of the action alliance called on Federal Interior Minister Nancy Faeser to implement a corresponding ban.
Here support the Alliance’s claim.
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