Diwali, that time of the year, when friends and family come together to celebrate the triumph of good over evil, by lighting diyas and bursting crackers. And while it may be all fun, games and celebrations for us, the nights are harrowing for our pets and the street side animals, for whom it turns torturous.
Notably, during Diwali, the sudden loud noises and flashes cause severe anxiety in animals. It also leads to an increase in respiratory issues from the extremely poor air quality.
Actress Pooja Bhatt strongly urges people from refraining using crackers and says, “Dogs can detect sounds that are too faint for the human ear, and can hear sounds pitched at frequencies above and below the range of an average person, so to them fireworks displays sound like explosions one associates with war and the battlefield.”
Harshvardhan Rane who will soon be seen in the film Tara vs Bilal says, “We make humans smile on festivals, why would we scare animals for celebrations? Be aware and stay kind to our environment.”
Similarly, Sunny Leone requests people to help make Diwali a fun, joyful festival for everyone, including animals, by having a noiseless celebration. “Please stop people from throwing firecrackers at community animals,” she urges.
Sachin Bangera, Vice President of Celebrity and Public Relations, PETA India explains, “The fireworks displays that accompany Diwali can seem more like a terrorist attack than a celebration to the dogs, cats, cows, donkeys and other animals who don’t understand that the explosions are meant as entertainment, not bombardment.”
According to him, during fireworks displays, many animals become frightened by the loud noises and run away from their homes. The lucky ones end up in animal shelters and are reunited with their families, but others are never found, and some suffer serious injuries or even die as they try to escape the noise.
Sachin adds that one should take care by keeping cats and dogs indoors during fireworks displays, and if possible, stay with them.
“Closing your windows and curtains, and turning on a radio or TV helps drown out the noise. Make sure your animal companion is wearing a collar and an updated identification tag. Stop people from throwing firecrackers at animals and encourage everyone to be on the lookout for people who tie lit firecrackers to dogs’ tails. Whenever possible, discourage people from setting off very loud firecrackers,” Sachin explains.
In conclusion, to make Diwali beautiful and safe for your feathered and furry friends, light up your home with diyas, lamps and other decorative ornaments that are friendly to all.
