Festivities Are Harming Animals

 

The festive spirit and it’s dangers for animals

“When I look into the eyes of an animal I do not see an animal. I see a living being, a friend, I feel a soul.”

-        A.D Williams

 

While Diwali is a festival full of lights, joy, and exuberance for many, it can be a time full of stress, anxiety, and terror for animals- be it pets, stray dogs, or service animals.

 

For animals, such as dogs, hearing ability is nearly seven times more sensitive, as compared to that of humans. As a result, the sound of loud crackers causes street animals to feel terrified, vulnerable, and more susceptible to hearing damage. This happens since the auditory pain threshold in dogs is approximately 95 decibels which is quite less than humans with 130 decibels. Fireworks usually produce sound of 190 decibels, which exceeds the sound threshold of animals. Common symptoms of fearfulness observed in street dogs include whining, salivation, loss of appetite, fear, hiding, and running away to find shelter. Even after the Diwali festivities are over, dogs may continue to experience a permanent sound phobia or excessive fear of loud noises, leading to epilepsy and other nervous signs. The fear may persist in the form of anxiety towards everyday sounds, such as door opening or the  sound of a doorbell. Besides, firecrackers pose various other kinds of risks to animals- such as injuries and accidents, lung damage due to harmful gas emissions, burns and mutilations, etc.

 Hence, it is imperative that as responsible citizens and animal-sensitive individuals, we must abstain from bursting crackers near animal shelters, residence localities, and busy streets. Moreover, care must be taken to keep pets and stray animals indoors, and at a considerable distance from firecrackers. To lessen sound sensitivity and tune out the bursting sounds, one can play the radio or television. Since children generally are the most enthusiastic about bursting crackers, it is important that the parents keep vigilance over the youngsters to ensure they don’t harm animals in any way. Furthermore, pet-owners and animal caretakers should keep a first aid kit handy and ensure that it is well-equipped with dressing material, antiseptics, analgesic and medicines. Lastly, it is essential for us to be aware of the common symptoms of anxiety and stress that the animals may develop due to loud noise, and attend to them immediately. If the signs persist, urgent veterinary intervention must be sought.

 

This Diwali, let’s join hands to make this radiant festival, as joyous and stress-free for our animals as it is for us!

(By Sanya, Editorial Department, Adolescence Development Club)